ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2012, Official Report, column 37W, on armed forces: sexual offences, what steps he has taken to ensure continuity of case ownership at the Service Prosecuting Authority in relation to cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
	Continuity of case ownership in these cases is a matter of the highest importance to both the Ministry of Defence and the Attorney-General. Care is taken to ensure that trials are prosecuted, wherever possible, by the case owner.
	However, continuity of case ownership can be difficult, particularly in the more serious and complex cases such as sexual offences. There may be some cases where a prosecutor with greater experience may be required for a particular trial. When this is necessary a comprehensive “handover” document is usually prepared which deals with potential issues.
	When assigning prosecutors to courts, the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) trial arrangers are assisted by assessments, recorded in the case analysis by the supervising prosecutor, about the level of experience, rather than the individual required to handle the case, depending on whether it is to be contested or not.
	The Director of Service Prosecutions has made particular efforts to secure specialist prosecutors, particularly for rape cases, for extended tours at the SPA.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what estimate he has made of the cost to the Serious Fraud Office of the judicial review brought against it by the Tchenguiz brothers.

Oliver Heald: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) spent £1,334,000 on non-staff case costs relating to the Kaupthing bank investigation and subsequent judicial review brought against it by Rawlinson and Hunter Trustees and others, and Robert Tchenguiz and R20, over a four-year period to 31 December 2012; It is not possible to break these costs down between the investigation and the judicial review. Payment on account of costs of other parties of £2,411,000 has also been made. The Serious Fraud Office's (SFO's) financial reporting system records external spending related to particular investigations. Because of the flexible way in which the SFO's permanent staff work across cases, it does not currently record these staff costs against each particular case. The investigation into Kaupthing bank was ongoing at the time of the judicial review, so it is not possible to give a figure for permanent staff costs relating to the review only.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Serious Fraud Office has spent to date on its first investigation into the Weavering hedge fund collapse.

Dominic Grieve: The total external expenditure relating to the initial Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation was £29,304. SFO staff working on the initial investigation were also engaged in other work, so it is not possible to accurately quantify the cost of permanent staff time relating to the investigation.
	Weavering Capital (UK) Ltd went into administration in March 2009. The company was responsible for managing the Weavering Macro Fixed Income Fund. The SFO ended its initial investigation into the collapse of the Weavering Macro Fixed Income Fund in September 2011. However, following a review of the High Court civil judgment by Mrs Justice Proudman on the 31 May 2012, the SFO's new Director reopened the criminal investigation in July 2012.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Serious Fraud Office has spent to date on its investigation into missing assets at Keydata Investment Services.

Oliver Heald: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) began investigating Keydata Investment Services Ltd (Keydata) following a referral by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in 2009. The total external spend on this investigation is £18,150.
	SFO staff working on the investigation were also engaged in other work, so it is not possible to estimate the cost of permanent staff time relating to the investigation.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on a minimum unit price for alcohol.

Jeremy Browne: On 28 November, the Government launched a consultation on key policies within the alcohol strategy, including seeking views on a proposed minimum unit price of 45p.

Drugs: Misuse

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East of 3 July 2012, Official Report, column 545W, for what reasons the document setting out the approach to the proposed evaluation of the effectiveness and value for money of the 2010 Drug Strategy was not published in autumn 2012; and when it will be published.

Jeremy Browne: Finalising the document outlining the proposed approach to the evaluation of the 2010 Drug Strategy has taken longer than originally anticipated. The exact date and format of the publication is currently in the process of being agreed.

Prostitution

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of court diversion schemes for those involved in prostitution;
	(2)  what recent assessment she has made of court diversion schemes which aim to change the behaviour of people who regularly solicit.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 22 January 2013
	Court diversion schemes are legislative options available to local areas in order to manage offending related to prostitution. Their application and assessment of their use is the responsibility of local police and courts.

Prostitution

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her Department's Violence against Women strategy, what proportion of ring-fenced funding for domestic and sexual violence support services will be allocated to prostitution exit programmes.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 22 January 2013
	The Home Office does not directly fund organisations to proactively assist men or women to exit prostitution. However, the Government has ring-fenced nearly £40 million over the course of the spending review period to fund specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, some of which specialise in assisting sex workers.

TRANSPORT

Buses: Safety Belts

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on amending legislation relating to the use of seat belts in coaches.

Stephen Hammond: The Department has received three items of ministerial correspondence about the rules governing the use of seat belts in coaches and buses in the last three months.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Norman Baker: The policy implementation priorities of the Department for Transport can be found in the Department's Structural Reform Plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's Business Plan Website:
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's Mid-Term Review document which was published on 7 January 2013, in addition to the Programme for Government update which was published on 9 January 2013:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/
	In terms of listing the Department's successes, this could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the provision of a property bond to offer security to property owners along the route of High Speed 2; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Property Bond (also known as the bond-based property purchase scheme) was considered before, during and after the national 2011 High Speed Rail consultation. The Government came to the conclusion that it was not an appropriate policy because it would impose an additional burden on the taxpayer and might have run the risk of exacerbating blight (the very problem it seeks to address) if it led to the Government owning so many properties along the line of route that it unsettled the balance of communities and significantly lowered home-ownership.

Kidsgrove Station

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many journeys through Kidsgrove railway station were cancelled in 2012 (a) as a result of driver shortages and (b) in total.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not collect information about cancellations at individual stations. This is a mater for the train operating companies (TOCs) concerned.
	The franchise train operators running services through Kidsgrove station are East Midlands Trains, London Midland and Northern Rail.
	These TOCs are contactable via the following means:
	East Midland Trains:
	(Tel: 08457 125 678; e-mail: mailto:getintouch@eastmidlandstrains. co.uk);
	London Midland: (Tel: 0844 811 0133; email:
	mailto:comments@londonmidland.com);
	and
	Northern Rail: (Tel: 0845 000 0125; email:
	mailto:customer.relations@northernrail.org)

Railways: Nature Conservation

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many incidents of Network Rail operations have led to prosecution or threat of prosecutions within the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what reports he has received on the number of Network Rail lineside operations which have been halted by the presence of nesting birds in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement

Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), has received neither reports nor statistics relating to Network Rail's adherence over the last three years to the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended. Network Rail is a private sector company limited by guarantee, and its line-side works are operational matters for the company, in which Ministers have no powers to intervene.

Railways: Standards

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the consultation by the Office of Rail Regulation on Network Rail's payments for delays to train operators, if he will ensure that any reforms to that system will result in passengers' refunds being on an equal footing with those of the train operators.

Norman Baker: Compensation paid to train operators for delays for which Network Rail is responsible is a matter for Network Rail. The compensation regime is a contractual element within the Track Access Agreement between Network Rail and each operator, and is overseen by the Office for Rail Regulation, which is currently consulting on whether any changes to that regime would be appropriate for the period 2014-19.
	Compensation is currently set on a formula basis designed, on average, to compensate the train operator for the future loss of revenue arising from disruption, including any longer-term loss of revenue from a sustained period of poor performance. It is not related to and does not include provision for any additional costs incurred by train operators, such as compensation costs to passengers.
	Compensation paid by train operators to passengers for delays is based on an entirely different system, in line with the terms of the operator's Passenger's Charter, and may vary for example with the type of ticket purchased. A number of existing franchises operate, as will all future ones, the Delay/Repay compensation system, under which compensation for delay is paid regardless of whether the delay was attributed to Network Rail or a train operator.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much road grit the UK has had in storage in each of the last five years.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport only holds comprehensive information on how much road salt was held in Great Britain since it introduced an electronic salt stock monitoring system in 2010 to monitor stock holdings being held across the country.
	The frequency of these salt surveys varies based on risks, such as the levels of salt stock being held and the weather.
	The results from the surveys undertaken, including restocking surveys, is as follows:
	
		
			 Date of salt survey undertaken Total Great Britainholding (tonnes) (million)(1, 2) 
			 June 2010 0.707 
			 September 2010 1.245 
			 November 2010 1.567 
			 6 December 2010 1.172 
			 13 December 2010 1.254 
			 20 December 2010 0.997 
			 29 December 2010 0.778 
			 5 January 2011 0.810 
			 10 January 2011 0.810 
			 17 January 2011 0.913 
			 24 January 2011 0.896 
			 31 January 2011 0.971 
			 February 2011 1.062 
			 April 2011 1.713 
			 September 2011 2.495 
			 October 2011 2.755 
			 November 2011 2.766 
			 December 2011 2.764 
			 January 2012 2.497 
			 February 2012 2.163 
			 March 2012 2.068 
			 September 2012 2.515 
			 October 2012 2.673 
			 November 2012 2.685 
			 7 January 2013 2.415 
			 (1) The figures include strategic salt stockpiles that are held by the Department for Transport, Transport for London and Transport Scotland. Figures for September 2010, November 2010 and 6 December 2010 exclude Wales. All other figures include Wales. (2) The Department for Transport does not hold information for Northern Ireland as this is a matter for the Northern Ireland Road Service.

Transport: Snow and Ice

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether additional support is available from his Department to assist local authorities in dealing with disruptions to regional transport links caused by bad weather.

Norman Baker: The management of local roads is the responsibility of the relevant local highway authorities under the Highways Act 1980. Authorities are expected to develop contingency plans in order to deal promptly and effectively with unplanned events, such as bad weather, in order to minimise disruption.
	The Department for Transport works closely with the local government sector to provide advice to authorities on how to best plan for and cope with the effects of bad weather on their transport networks. Support provided includes advising and publishing best practice guidance through the UK Roads Liaison Group, as well as working closely with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) on resilience issues.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government is also in regular liaison with Local Resilience Forums, which include local highway authorities, to ensure effective delivery of duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to plan, prepare and communicate to reduce the risks from any such emergencies.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Fracking

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider further ways of ensuring that local acceptance is a material consideration in a planning appeal considered by the Planning Inspectorate for fracking rig installation.

Nicholas Boles: All planning decisions, including any appeal decisions, should be made in accordance with the local development plan, national planning guidance and other material planning considerations. This is how the 'plan-led' planning system works.
	Any representations on material planning considerations made by local residents, either on the original application or in respect of any appeal, are given full consideration by any inspector determining an appeal.
	The weight to be attached to a material planning consideration is a matter for the decision-maker based on the individual circumstances of the application or the appeal.

Green Belt

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have submitted local plans which propose the release of greenbelt land for development for (a) housing and (b) business use.

Nicholas Boles: Local plans are the responsibility of local authorities. We do not hold centrally detailed information on local authorities' proposals across all their submitted plans.

Green Belt

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications for new build projects on Green Belt land have been approved under Planning Policy Statement 7 Clause 11 since 2001.

Nicholas Boles: holding answer 21 January 2013
	This information is not collected centrally. Planning Policy Statement 7 was replaced by the National Planning Policy Framework, published in March 2012. The Framework maintains both Green Belt policy and a policy on exceptional dwellings in the countryside.

Housing: Construction

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that the planning process includes a requirement for new housing development to have fibre optic cabling installed to facilitate high speed broadband.

Nicholas Boles: We consider that this issue is best addressed in the context of our Review to rationalise the framework of Building Regulations, standards and guidance. This was launched last October and is designed to remove unnecessary cost and complexity from the house-building process. An external Challenge Panel is contributing to the Review, and as part of its work has been asked to consider whether there is any need to add broadband connectivity into the Building Regulations. The terms of reference for the Review are available in this link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-panel-to-help-government-cut-housebuilding-red-tape-and-boost-growth

Planning Permission: Fees and Charges

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the cost of dealing with planning applications is covered by the fee that local authorities are able to charge; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Boles: Councils' statutory planning functions are financed through central Government grant, tax revenue retained locally, and from planning fees.
	In total, local authorities in England spent £597 million in 2011-12 on development management. Income from individual planning applications was £283 million in the same period.
	However, such figures are not comparative in a meaningful way. An Ove Arup survey in 2010 found that only 34% of planning authority resources was devoted to work on fee-related development management.
	Councils' planning activities will include plan making, heritage and conservation, planning enforcement and handling applications which do not attract a fee.

Publications

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what procedures are used in his Department for monitoring the costs of producing in-house publications; and what categories of expenditure are recorded in relation to such costs.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 14 January 2013
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him today in PQs 135268 and 135278.

Publishing

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what costs his Department incurred in printing since May 2010;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on publications since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has taken a series of steps to reduce printing and publishing costs, illustrated in the following table.
	
		
			 Spending £ 
			 April 2008 - March 2009 4,619,526 
			 April 2009 - March 2010 4,218,840 
			 April 2010 43,613 
			 May 2010 - March 2011 282,083 
			 April 2011 - March 2012 282,839 
		
	
	The figures are for printing and publishing combined. It is not possible to differentiate between the two categories.
	The Department now produces most publications digitally by default. I would note that Parliament continues to require some documents to be hard copy printed, for the benefit of hon. Members. A small number of publications may be hard copy printed for disability or access/exclusion reasons. Notwithstanding, these figures illustrate the scope for sensible savings in the public sector.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

David Mundell: The policy implementation priorities of the Scotland Office can be found in the Department's business plan, which is published on the Scotland Office website:
	http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's mid-term review document published on 7 January 2013 at:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	and the Programme for Government Update published on 9 January 2013 at:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/

Pay

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials in his Department in each of the last two years.

David Mundell: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne) on 12 December 2012, Official Report, columns 316-17W.

Travel

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 647W, on official visits, how much his Department has spent on behalf of (a) Ministers, (b) staff and (c) special advisers on (i) first-class train travel, (ii) business-class air travel and (iii) taxi hire in each of the last two years.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not separately record the spend on official visits from routine official business.

Travel

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department travelled (a) to and (b) from Scotland and London in an official capacity in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012; and what the annual cost was of such journeys.

David Mundell: The number of officials travelling to and from Scotland and London in an official capacity and the costs of such journeys are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of travelling officials Cost (£) 
			 2010-11 50 70,070 
			 2011-12 49 97,744 
			 2012-13 (April to December 2012) 58 117,676

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether under the terms of the call-up notice reservists who receive notices for service in Afghanistan may be deployed to other theatres of operation if they are subsequently deemed not to be required for duty in Afghanistan.

Mark Francois: holding answer 22 January 2013
	Reservists called out but subsequently not required to deploy to Afghanistan will be demobilised. If they have the correct skill sets to fill a post in a different operational theatre they will be given the option to deploy there rather than returning to civilian employment immediately. Those that take up this offer will be called out against that different operation, subject to a current call-out order being in place. The new call-out notice would permit both the reservist and the civilian employer to appeal against call out.
	Under the Reserve Forces, Safeguard of Employment Act 1985, reservists are guaranteed re-employment with their former civilian employer.

Armed Forces: Crime

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of JSP 839 Code of Practice on services to be provided by the armed forces to victims of crime; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: To date, no formal assessment of the effectiveness of JSP 839 Code of Practice on services to be provided by the armed forces to victims of crime, has been carried out.

Armed Forces: Discharges

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been discharged from the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force on the grounds of retrospective medical discharge in each year since May 2010.

Mark Francois: This information is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 752W, on armed forces: sexual offences, with reference to the Full Code test, if he will define service interest; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, the Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), on 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 752W, in which he referred to the “public interest” which is to be considered in relation to whether a prosecution should be brought.
	One aspect of the public interest is sometimes referred to as the “service interest” which can be defined as any issue that affects capability and operational effectiveness. Regarding legal issues this means that the armed forces should be subject to fair and effective discipline, and that by such discipline their operational effectiveness will be maintained and enhanced.

Defence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the UK's priorities for defence engagement.

Andrew Murrison: Our International Defence Engagement Strategy will be published shortly.
	This will identify the optimum ways in which Defence assets and activities can contribute towards wider Government objectives overseas, including security, conflict prevention and prosperity. We consult across Whitehall to ensure that we prioritise our defence engagement most effectively against these objectives, in line with changing international realities.

Meetings

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions Ministers in his Department met General Sir Charles Guthrie at the Ministry of Defence Main Building between June 2001 and 6 May 2010; and what the date was of, and which Minister attended, each such meeting;
	(2)  on how many occasions Ministers in his Department met Admiral Sir Michael Boyce at the Ministry of Defence main building between June 2003 and 6 May 2010; which Minister attended each such meeting; and on what date each such meeting took place.

Philip Hammond: According to our records, the following meetings took place between Ministers and Admiral Sir Michael Boyce:
	
		
			 Date Minister 
			 19 November 2009 Rt. Hon. Bob Ainsworth MP (Secretary of State for Defence) 
			 23 November 2009 Rt. Hon. Bob Ainsworth MP (Secretary of State for Defence) 
			 2 November 2009 Bill Rammell MP (Minister for the Armed Forces) 
			 21 October 2009 Kevan Jones MP (Minister for Veterans) 
		
	
	
		
			 14 January 2010 Kevan Jones MP (Minister for Veterans) and Bill Rammell MP (Minister for the Armed Forces) 
			 4 February 2010 Bill Rammell MP (Minister for the Armed Forces) 
			 10 February 2010 Kevan Jones MP (Minister for Veterans) and the Rt. Hon. Bob Ainsworth (Secretary of State for Defence) 
		
	
	No meetings between General Sir Charles Guthrie and Ministers were recorded.

Publications

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 799W, on publications, if he will place a copy of his Department's staff magazine in the Library.

Mark Francois: I have placed the latest copy of “Defence Focus” in the Library of the House. Each edition is also available online at the following link:
	http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence/series/defence-focus-magazine

TREASURY

Child Care Vouchers

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (a) how many people benefited from workplace childcare vouchers supported by Government funds, (b) what the average benefit to recipients was and (c) what the total cost to the public purse was in each (i) region and nation of the UK and (ii) parliamentary constituency in (A) 2011-12 and (B) 2012-13 to date.

Sajid Javid: The average number of taxpayers in receipt of childcare vouchers during each financial year is estimated to be as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2011-12 500,000 
			 2012-13 540,000 
		
	
	The average value to a voucher recipient of Government support through relief from tax and national insurance is estimated to be £900 a year in both 2011-12 and 2012-13.
	The total virtue of Government support for childcare vouchers to employees and employers through relief from tax and national insurance is estimated to be as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2011-12 630 
			 2012-13 640 
		
	
	Estimates at country, regional and constituency level are not available.

Commonwealth Finance Ministers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the UK's representation at the Tokyo Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting in October 2012.

Greg Clark: The meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers was held in Tokyo, Japan on 9-10 October 2012, in the margins of the IMF/World Bank annual meetings. The discussion focused on: growth, jobs and inequality; and dealing with uncertainty in the global economy.
	A chair's summary of the meeting is available on the Commonwealth Secretariat website should further information on the topics of discussion be required:
	http://www.thecommonwealth.org/subhomepage/145500/247717/cfmm2012/

Corporation Tax: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to make a decision on the devolution of corporation tax to Northern Ireland.

David Gauke: The report of the Joint Ministerial Working Group has made real progress in understanding the practicalities and potential impacts of devolution to Northern Ireland. A decision on the report will be made in due course.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Sajid Javid: The policy implementation priorities for HM Treasury can be found in the Department's Structural Reform Plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's Business Plan Website:
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's Mid-Term Review document:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	published on 7 January 2013 and the Programme for Government Update:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/
	published on 9 January 2013.

Gamma International

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the licensing of exports by Gamma International; if he will place a copy of any response by his Department to such representations in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC cannot comment on individual cases. HMRC considers all credible information it receives and takes action accordingly.

Infrastructure UK

John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projects are currently being managed by Infrastructure UK; and if he will estimate the value of each such project.

Danny Alexander: Infrastructure UK supports the delivery of major infrastructure projects with a focus on the Top 40 priority infrastructure projects and programmes but does not directly manage them. An update on the delivery of the Top 40 was published alongside the autumn statement 2012 and is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/national_infrastructure_plan_051212.pdf

Infrastructure UK

John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by Infrastructure UK; how many of these are (a) permanent civil servants, (b) consultants and (c) on secondment to Infrastructure UK; and from what organisations seconded staff have been seconded.

Danny Alexander: As of 30 November 2012 (the most recent date figures are available), Infrastructure UK employs 36.34 FTE permanent staff, 1.00 FTE staff on fixed term contract, 0.4FTE contractor/agency staff and 4.80 FTE staff on loan and secondment. Staff on loan and secondment are from Costain Ltd, Parsons Brinckerhoff, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Royal Academy of Engineering and Deloitte Touche.

Infrastructure UK

John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost has been of consultants working for Infrastructure UK in each year since the unit was established within his Department to date; and what Infrastructure UK's planned budget for consultants is for each year to 2015-16.

Danny Alexander: Following the confirmation of Infrastructure UK in the June 2010 Emergency Budget, the following expenditures have been made on consultants:
	
		
			  £ 
			 June 2010-11 0 
			 2011-12 65,000 
			 2012-13 23,000 
		
	
	Infrastructure UK's 2013-14 and future operational budget will be set by HM Treasury's Executive Management Board, as part of the Department's 2013-14 business planning round currently under way.

Infrastructure UK

John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total annual running cost has been for Infrastructure UK since June 2010; and what the total annual budget is for each year to 2015-16.

Danny Alexander: The gross total annual running costs for Infrastructure UK from 2010-11 have been:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2010-11 7,670,000 
			 2011-12 6,126,000 
		
	
	
		
			 2012-13 (1)6,463,000 
			 (1) Forecast. 
		
	
	Infrastructure UK costs are offset by income streams including from the organisations of incoming secondees and IUK's work with other Government Departments. Infrastructure UK's 2013-14 and future operational budget will be set by HM Treasury's Executive Management Board, as part of the Department's 2013-14 business planning round currently under way.

National Insurance Contributions: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Exchequer received in respect of employer and employee national insurance contributions from people resident in Scotland in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The estimated amount of class 1 national insurance contributions paid in Scotland was:
	
		
			 National insurance contributions Scotland 
			 £ billion 
			  Class 1 Employee NICs Class 1Employer NICs 
			 2010-11 3.4 4.4 
			 2009-10 3.4 4.4 
			 2008-09 3.4 4.5 
			 2007-08 3.3 4.5 
			 2006-07 3.1 4.1 
		
	
	Figures for 2011-12 and 2012-13 are not available.
	Estimates are based on a 1% sample of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) data. The sample is based on accruals data; it relies upon P14 forms completed by employers at the end of each tax year and may differ from receipts figures that may be available from other sources.

New Businesses: Government Assistance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value of investments made to date under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme is.

David Gauke: To date HM Revenue and Customs has approved investments that total £7 million, in around 85 companies under the Seed Enterprise Investment scheme.

NHS: Private Sector

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to offer tax incentives to private healthcare companies operating in the NHS.

David Gauke: The Government has no plans to offer tax incentives to private sector providers of NHS services.
	Monitor are currently carrying out a review of any matters which prevent providers—be they NHS, for-profit or voluntary sector organisations—from improving the services that the NHS offer to patients. When the report is completed, the Government will consider any changes that would result in benefits to patients. Monitor has not yet submitted its report, but it has clarified that it will not be recommending that private sector providers of NHS services should be exempt from paying corporation tax.

Non-domestic Rates: Appeals

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many business rates appeals to the Valuation Office Agency are classed as (a) outstanding, (b) received and (c) cleared, by region; and what the current median time is to clear business rates challenges in days by region.

David Gauke: The following table shows the latest available statistics on proposals (appeals) to alter the 2010 rating lists, by region. The numbers provided are for the latest complete financial year.
	
		
			 Region Received(1 )1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 Cleared(1)1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 Median time to clear (days) 31 March 2012 Unresolved(1) 31 March 2012 
			 England and Wales 169,610 148,550 322 241,700 
			 England 160,960 141,150 321 230,000 
			 North East 6,920 5,650 343 10,320 
			 North West 22,180 19,690 330 34,130 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 14,340 14,540 330 22,050 
			 East Midlands 9,130 12,220 286 10,400 
			 West Midlands 15,140 14,850 316 20,560 
			 East 16,550 13,470 319 23,710 
			 London 40,580 23,820 332 56,610 
			 South East 21,690 22,060 315 33,150 
			 South West 14,430 14,840 337 19,050 
			 Wales 8,650 7,410 344 11,710 
			 VOA Official Statistics, Local Rating Lists: Challenges, May 2012 http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/statisticalReleases/120503-localRatingListChallenges.html

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had on changing OECD tax treaty standards on (a) company residence and (b) permanent establishment.

David Gauke: Officials have regular dialogue with the OECD and attend its various working parties as part of Government business. One of those working parties looks at the operation of the OECD Model Tax Convention. It is currently reviewing the guidance on the definition of permanent establishment contained in the Commentary on the OECD Model Tax Convention, and is proposing some changes to that guidance, but not to the treaty standard definition of what constitutes a permanent establishment. The work of that group will be reflected in the updated Commentary to be published in 2014.
	The OECD work on base erosion and profit shifting covers a wide range of issues, including consideration of the rules on permanent establishment. The OECD will report to the G20 Finance Ministers on progress in February 2013. The timetable and direction for further work by the OECD will be set following consideration of the February report.

Revenue and Customs

Kate Hoey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the ways in which HM Revenue and Customs deals with disabled people in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC ensures that it complies with the extensive legal protection for disabled people which exists in domestic law. The UK is already bound by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention did not aim to establish new human rights for disabled people but sets out with greater clarity the human rights that disabled people already have so they are treated on an equal basis to other people.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to introduce a variable rate of stamp duty land tax to reflect the energy efficiency of a property.

David Gauke: The Government has no intention to introduce a variable rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) to reflect the energy efficiency of a property.

Tax Avoidance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the role of accountancy firms in recent instances of aggressive tax avoidance by large corporations;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the role of commercial law firms in recent instances of aggressive tax avoidance by large corporations.

David Gauke: The UK played a leading role in a 2008 OECD report into the role of tax advisers. The report acknowledged that intermediaries play a vital role in the tax system, helping taxpayers understand and comply with their tax obligations, but it also observed that some tax intermediaries act as promoters of aggressive tax planning. The key conclusion was that the large corporate taxpayer, not the tax intermediary, sets the overall strategy and appetite for tax risk, and decides whether or not to adopt particular tax planning opportunities.
	HMRC recognises that this continues to be the case, and that tax advisers play an important role in supporting responsible tax planning. HMRC seeks to reduce tax avoidance by using customer relationship managers to monitor the company's business and tax affairs closely and understand the avoidance risks they pose. It allocates resources to the biggest risks, for example through the High Risk Corporates Programme, as well as using the statutory disclosure rules that apply to the promoters of avoidance schemes.

Tax Avoidance and Evasion

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what work HM Revenue and Customs is currently undertaking with tax authorities in other (a) EU and (b) OECD countries on tackling tax evasion and avoidance.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs regularly works with tax administrations in partner countries to tackle cross-border non-compliance.
	The United Kingdom joined the Aggressive Tax Planning (ATP) Steering Group set up by the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration in 2005. Details of tax avoidance schemes promoted in one of the 22 ATP member states are shared to promote OECD wide awareness of avoidance schemes. This helps governments to respond quickly to tax risks, identify trends and patterns experienced by another tax administration and share experiences in dealing with them.
	The UK plays a leading role having disclosed 41 of approximately 400 schemes posted to the ATP Directory to date. The UK contributes to reports prepared by the OECD ATP on areas of international tax avoidance, and we are leading members of ATP “expert groups”.
	HMRC attends and participates fully in the bi-annual OECD ATP conferences, most recently in October 2012.
	HMRC also makes full use of its membership of the nine country JITSIC group to investigate potential cases of cross-border avoidance and evasion, by both individuals and corporates.
	On offshore evasion, HMRC is developing a comprehensive strategy to be published in spring 2013. This strategy will detail the role of multilateral and cross-border working in preventing and addressing evasion.

Tax Evasion: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies in Scotland have been (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted for tax evasion in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The term “investigation” can cover many types of interventions undertaken by HMRC. For instance any tax return submitted by a company can be looked at to ensure its accuracy, and HMRC engages with individuals and companies on their tax affairs on the telephone and by carrying out compliance visits. HMRC carries out hundreds of thousands of such interventions every year.
	The majority of tax evasion cases are dealt with using cost-effective civil settlement procedures.
	HMRC also has the power to investigate criminally those that seek to defraud the Exchequer, and it publishes its policy around when it will use this power.
	HMRC is not a prosecuting authority. Where cases do proceed to the criminal courts the prosecution is carried out by the relevant independent prosecuting authority. This is the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in England and Wales, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in Scotland, and the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland (PPSNI).
	Along with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), HMRC and its prosecuting authority are legislatively able to pursue corporate offending. However, establishing guilty knowledge and securing convictions against companies is notoriously difficult. Therefore when HMRC undertakes a criminal investigation into a company for tax evasion with a view to prosecution, it will pursue the officers of the company for their actions on behalf of that company, rather than the company per se.
	Details of the total number of individuals prosecuted and convicted for tax offences are set out in the table. These include offences in relation to both direct and indirect tax, excise, and tax credits.
	It is not HMRC's policy to divulge regional operational data of the nature requested.
	
		
			  Prosecutions Convictions 
			 2007-08 526 638 
			 2008-09 416 469 
			 2009-10 296 419 
			 2010-11 402 327 
			 2011-12 497 399 
		
	
	Prosecution and conviction figures in any given year do not necessarily relate to the same individuals due to timing and length of case. Prior to 2010-11, prosecution figures relate to cases as opposed to individuals.
	A breakdown of prosecutions and convictions for tax evasion between individuals and those related to companies is available only at disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Albania

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to improve bilateral trade with Albania; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: We are working closely with the Albanian Government to improve the business environment, by addressing important issues such as corruption, strengthening the judiciary, and developing property rights and other areas of legislation relevant to any business wishing to operate in Albania. For example, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is finalising a Double Taxation Agreement with Albania in order to encourage more trade. Creating the right business environment is vital for Albania in attracting foreign investment, and also for creating a domestic economy that would lead to future investments in the UK.

Arms Trade: Treaties

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons a commitment to achieving an international arms trade treaty was not included in the Coalition Mid-term Review.

Alistair Burt: The coalition's mid-term review contains many of the Government's achievements and objectives but it is not an exhaustive list of them all. A robust, effective, legally-binding and global Arms Trade Treaty will offer the prospect of a better future to millions who live in the shadow of conflict. The UK has played a leading role over the last seven years in international efforts to achieve such a Treaty and it continues to be a high priority for the Government. In July last year, we made important progress on a draft text. In November, we and key partners secured overwhelming support at the UN for a conference to conclude the Treaty in March 2013. A treaty is now within our grasp and the Government will spare no effort to secure it.

Azerbaijan

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will write to the government of Azerbaijan to commemorate the occasion of the anniversary of the massacre of civilians by Soviet forces in Baku on 20 January 1990.

David Lidington: The Government are aware of the tragic events that took place in Baku in January 1990, when Azerbaijan was still part of the Soviet Union. Many thousands of civilians were displaced from their homes, with deaths estimated to run into hundreds. It is not our practice to send letters of condolence on such occasions, but our ambassador in Baku will be attending a ceremony led by the Azerbaijani president on Sunday 20 January to commemorate those who died.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on of the treatment of Talib Ali, Ahmed Abdullah Ibrahim, Saeed Ali Al Herz and Hassan Abdullah al Moalem in custody in Bahrain.

Alistair Burt: We have not received detailed information about the four individuals referred to, but continue in our efforts to monitor trials in Bahrain and the treatment of those held in custody.
	In particular we urge the Government of Bahrain to ensure that due process is carefully and transparently followed in all cases and that civil liberties are protected. It is essential that anyone accused has adequate time to prepare a defence, access to legal counsel and is tried before independent, impartial tribunals.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of press freedom in Bahrain.

Alistair Burt: We recommend the steps taken by the Government of Bahrain in implementing reforms based on recommendations by the Independent Commission of Inquiry. But we believe the Government has more to do to relax censorship and allow the opposition greater access to the media. We continue to raise this issue with the authorities, underlining the importance press freedom has for reconciliation.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of reports of torture and mistreatment of prisoners perceived to be opponents of the Government of Bahrain.

Alistair Burt: The British Government consistently and unreservedly condemns torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and it is a priority for us to combat it wherever and whenever it occurs. We are aware of allegations of mistreatment of Bahraini protesters and express our concerns to the authorities on a regular basis.
	At its Universal Periodic Review at the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2012, the Government of Bahrain made a commitment to consider ratifying the Optional Protocol of the Convention Against Torture.
	The UK strongly supports this and we have been working with the authorities to share best practice on torture prevention measures. For example, in mid-January the Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded a visit to Bahrain by officials from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prison to share best practice with the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Justice on National Preventive Mechanisms against torture in detention centres and conducting independent inspections.

Commonwealth

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the most recent bilateral investment agreement between the UK and another Commonwealth country was signed.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The last treaty between the UK and a Commonwealth country to enter into force was with Mozambique. The treaty was signed in March 2004 and came into force in February 2007. The UK signed an agreement with Zambia in November 2009 but this has yet to enter into force.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

David Lidington: The policy implementation priorities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office can be found in the Department's Structural Reform Plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's business plan website:
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's mid-term review document:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	published on 7 January 2013 and the programme for Government update:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/
	published on 9 January 2013.

Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to help victims of trafficking return to their countries of origin while providing them with reintegration support; and what funding his Department makes available to support this process.

Hugo Swire: The British Government are committed to helping victims of trafficking who wish to return to their countries of origin. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) held a ministerial event in October 2012 to encourage foreign embassies, high commissions and consulates in London to expedite the process for securing travel documentation for their nationals who are victims of trafficking and wish to return home.
	The FCO supports numerous projects overseas to provide reintegration of returning migrants, including the victims of trafficking, through several channels. The FCO; along with the UK Border Agency, Department for International Development and the Ministry of Justice, manage the returns and reintegration fund. This fund has been used, for example, for a project in Vietnam to help provide accommodation for female victims of trafficking.
	In addition to this, some of our posts overseas use their bilateral programme budgets to help support local projects, such as a counter trafficking project in India, to support the reintegration of Indian victims of trafficking. The FCO has also pledged to support a joint EU-funded Victims of Trafficking programme coordinated by the International Organisation for Migration.

Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which organisations in which countries receive funding from his Department to support the integration and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking in their country of origin.

Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has provided funding to the following organisations to facilitate the integration and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking:
	
		
			 Country Organisation 
			 India Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ)—(Commercial Sexual Exploitation counter trafficking project) 
			 Vietnam Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA)—(Lao Cai Reintegration Shelter) 
		
	
	The FCO has also provided funding to the following organisations to help reintegrate returning migrants, which may include victims of trafficking, but these programmes have a broader remit:
	
		
			 Country Organisation 
			 Afghanistan International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 
			 Iraq European Technology and Training Centre (ETTC); World Economic Outlook (WEO) 
			 Pakistan Women Empowerment Literacy and Development Organisation (WELDO)

Iran

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of Iranian involvement with terrorist proxies; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We have serious concerns about Iran's support for a number of terrorist groups in the Middle East, including Hizballah, Palestinian rejectionist groups such as P1J and Hamas, and Iraqi Shia militia groups. Iran's support to these groups directly undermines prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East. Iran continues to provide the military wing of Hizballah with significant financial resources, military equipment and training. Such support is unacceptable and in direct contravention of the UN embargo on the export of weapons by Iran (UN Security Council Resolution 1747).
	We regularly discuss these concerns with a range of international partners and are committed to the toughest possible international response to Iran's support for terrorism and refusal to operate within the bounds of international law.

Iran

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the situation of the Baha'i community in Iran.

Alistair Burt: We remain deeply concerned about the situation of the Baha'i community in Iran. This religious group continues to be systematically persecuted by the Iranian regime. I am aware of an apparent increase in harassment, particularly in Semnan. This includes the closure of businesses run by Baha'is, restricted access to education by Baha'i students and the imprisonment in poor conditions of infants alongside their Baha'i mothers. Over 100 Baha'is are imprisoned in Iran, including the seven Baha'i leaders jailed in 2008. We continue to monitor this minority group's persecution and to condemn publicly their appalling treatment by the regime.

Middle East

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Sinai Peninsula.

Alistair Burt: The British Government continues to be concerned about the security situation in the Sinai. We regularly raise this with the Egyptian authorities and have offered to share British experience in this field. Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice currently warns against all travel to the Governorate of North Sinai and against all but essential travel to the Governorate of South Sinai.

Middle East

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of progress in the Middle East Peace Process; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Recent developments highlight the urgent need for the United States of America, with the strong support of the UK and other partners, to lead a major push to revitalise the peace process. We are concerned by developments that threaten the viability of the two-state solution, particularly continued settlement announcements. The UK continues to urge both sides to refrain from any steps that would make the two-state solution, or a return to negotiations, more difficult. 2013 is a crucial year for the Middle East Peace Process if progress is to be made before the window for a two state solution closes. Accordingly we will continue to call on Palestinian Authority President Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister to show the strong leadership needed to achieve a return to negotiations for a two-state solution, which will bring a just and permanent solution to this conflict.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ proposal for an international inquiry into possible crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international human rights law in North Korea.

Hugo Swire: We welcome the statement from the United Nations High Commissioner on 14 January 2013. We are currently considering with partners in the UN whether to support an international inquiry into human rights violations in North Korea. We agree with the principle that more needs to be done to put pressure on North Korea to reform.
	During the Australia-UK ministerial consultations on 18 January 2013, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and the Australian Foreign Minister agreed that they should explore what more can be done to enhance the effectiveness of UN measures.
	We continue to press the North Korean Government to cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea and allow him access to their country.

Piracy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the UK insurance industry as a result of piracy off the coast of Africa.

Alistair Burt: The report by One Earth Future (2011) estimates that maritime piracy could be costing the global economy up to USD $12 billion a year. They estimated the two major forms of piracy related insurance, war risk and kidnap and ransom policies, cost shipping companies up to USD $635 million in 2011.
	Owing to the way insurance premiums are calculated however, it is not possible for these figures to be translated into an accurate representation of the cost to UK insurance companies.

Piracy

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 December 2012, Official Report, column 37WS, on the International Piracy Ransoms Task Force, what steps he is taking both in the UK and through diplomatic channels to prevent the payment of ransoms.

Alistair Burt: The British Government's policy on kidnap for ransom is long-held and clear: we seek the swift and safe return of hostages, but do not pay ransoms or make other substantive concessions to hostage takers (prisoner release or a change in policy). We do so on the basis that making concessions only serves to fuel the problem and increase the risk to our nationals.
	This is why, following the Prime Minister's announcement at the London Conference on Somalia last year, we led the Piracy Ransoms Task Force which reported to Parliament on 12 December. The taskforce, comprising Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Liberia, Malaysia, Norway, Panama, Spain, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States, agreed that work should urgently be undertaken to:
	develop a new strategic partnership between flag states, the private sector and law enforcement agencies that brings together those tackling piracy and those subjected to it in a united effort to break the piracy business model;
	develop a more co-ordinated approach to information-sharing to provide evidence-to pursue and prosecute all involved in piracy;
	strengthen co-ordination between flag states, the private sector and military responders to prepare for potential hostage situations; and
	encourage implementation of anti-piracy measures, including greater compliance with Best Management Practice.
	Over the coming months we will be taking forward these recommendations with our international partners and the UK maritime industry.

Sick Leave

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how many days of sick leave staff of his Department are permitted to take in any one year before disciplinary action is commenced;
	(2)  how many days of paid staff sickness leave per individual member of staff is authorised in his Department annually.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a robust sick absence procedure in place to deal with staff who take sick leave. Our policy is in line with the Civil Service Management Code, part of the Civil Service Code which sets out the central framework for management of the civil service as set by the Cabinet Office.
	There is no single limit on the number of days of paid sickness days that FCO members of staff are authorised to take.
	An unsatisfactory attendance record, which will trigger action for line managers, is defined as:
	12 days self-certificated sick leave in any 12 month period;
	a combination of self-certificated and/or medically-certified sick leave totalling at least 15 days during the last 12 months; or
	five separate occasions of self-certificated and/or medically-certified sick absence in any 12 month period.
	Staff who reach any of these trigger points are warned their attendance is unsatisfactory. A formal process is activated which requires the manager to monitor attendance for up to three periods of three months. If attendance remains poor they are referred to a Sick Absence Management Panel with a recommendation for dismissal.
	During 2012, the total number of paid sick days, taken by UK Based staff, was 15,295. This equates to an average number of 3.4 days per person. This compares favourably with the Whitehall average of 7.6 days per person. There were 222 days of unpaid sick absence.

Ukraine

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will visit Ukraine to discuss new initiatives to combat human trafficking.

David Lidington: Neither the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), nor I have any immediate plans to visit Ukraine. I last visited in October 2010 when I met the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Vice Prime Minister.
	The Government takes human trafficking very seriously and is committed to combating it, including by providing support to anti-trafficking organisations which routinely work to tackle this crime.
	Ukraine is not one of the major source countries for trafficking victims to the UK. Five referrals of Ukrainian nationals were made to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) between 1 April 2009 and June 2011, of which only three cases were later identified as having positive grounds to classify them as victims of trafficking. To date there have been no referrals of Ukrainian nationals to the NRM for 2012.
	Her Majesty's Government (HMG) will be working closely with the Ukrainian Government throughout its Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as Ukraine has highlighted combating human trafficking as a priority for its chairmanship. The UK will contribute actively to an international conference being organised by Ukraine on this subject as announced in Vienna by the Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Justine Greening: The policy implementation priorities of the Department for International Development can be found in the Department's structural reform plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's business plan website
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's mid-term review document
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	published on 7 January 2013, and the Programme for Government Update
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/
	published on 9 January 2013.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent estimate she has made of the contribution of the arts and culture sector to the UK economy;
	(2)  what recent estimate she has made of the contribution of the creative industries' sector to the UK economy;
	(3)  what recent estimate she has made of the contribution of the heritage sector to the UK economy;
	(4)  what recent estimate she has made of the contribution of museums to the UK economy.

Edward Vaizey: DCMS estimates the direct economic contribution of its sectors through the Creative Industries Economic Estimates, the Sports Satellite Account and the Tourism Satellite Account. DCMS also draws on other sources, such as the Annual Business Survey (ABS) and estimates and research from its arm's length bodies for data on the economic impact of its sectors.
	The latest DCMS estimates show the creative industries contributed £36.3 billion to the economy in 2009, exported £8.9 billion in creative services in 2009 and employed 1.5 million people in 2010. The Tourism Satellite Account estimates that tourism contributed £44.6 billion to the economy and employed 1.79 million people in 2009. The Sports Satellite account shows that sport contributed £27.2 billion in GVA terms and employed 632,000 people in sports related industries in 2006.
	The Annual Business Survey estimates that historic sites contributed £162 million to economy in GVA terms in 2011.
	The Heritage Lottery Fund has estimated that UK Heritage tourism directly accounts for £4.3 billion of GDP and creates employment for 113,000 people
	The Arts Council England have commissioned research to produce an evidence-based understanding of the direct, indirect and wider contribution that arts and culture, including museums, make to the national economy, this is expected to be published in early summer 2013.

Broadband

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on ensuring that the planning process includes a requirement for new housing development to have fibre optic cabling installed to facilitate high speed broadband.

Edward Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), on a variety of matters, including broadband and planning. The Publicly Available Specification ‘Next Generation Access for new build homes’ (PAS 2016), published in December 2010 and sponsored by Government, is intended to provide developers and house builders with the information they need to make informed decisions on how to ensure homes are best-equipped for next generation connectivity.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many local authorities have completed the procurement work for the rollout of UK broadband following state aid approval for local authorities to sign procurement deals with contractors to start work on rural broadband infrastructure projects; and what steps she has taken to encourage them to do so.

Edward Vaizey: I can confirm that nine projects have signed contracts, 15 are in procurement and the remainders are in preparation to begin procurement. Broadband Delivery UK is working closely with the local project teams to support their progress and contract signature at the earliest opportunity.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the reasons were for postponement of the completion of procurement of the rural broadband infrastructure project to summer 2013; and what assessment she has made of the likelihood of further such postponement.

Edward Vaizey: The procurement timetable is based on the capacity of local authorities and suppliers to manage the overall procurement process and it also reflects the time required for the European Commission to approve the UK's umbrella state aid notification. As a result of the program new cabinets and connections are already being delivered, and more projects will be delivering improved connections once they complete procurement and have signed contracts.

Culture: Finance

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the potential effects of the Local Government Finance Settlement on funding for cultural projects by local authorities.

Edward Vaizey: The Government has made no assessment of the potential effects of the Local Government Finance Settlement on funding for cultural projects by local authorities. It is central Government's role to empower local communities and it is for local authorities to make the decisions that they feel are most appropriate for their area. Ministers have met with representatives of the Local Government Association to discuss the importance of local government funding to arts and cultural organisations.

Direct Selling

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with her ministerial colleagues on legislative proposals for the protection of people in the UK from unsolicited international callers.

Edward Vaizey: No recent discussions have been held as callers from within the UK, or those based overseas making international calls on behalf of UK companies, are legally required not to call a number that is registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). Although, international calls not made on behalf of UK companies fall outside of the UK's jurisdiction. The TPS is a free service and is provided under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) 2003; consumers are also protected if they have previously notified the caller that they do not wish to receive such calls. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces the TPS and can issue a fine of up to £500,000 for the most serious breaches of the PECR.
	I met with ICO, Ofcom and TPS in July to press for further improvements in enforcement. Consequently, the ICO has increased the resources devoted to enforcement of PECR and on 28 November 2012 served monetary penalties totalling £440,000 to two illegal marketers responsible for distributing millions of spam texts. The ICO has also published on its website, a list of the most complained about companies that make calls to TPS registered consumers. If the companies fail to remedy their actions, then they could face further enforcement action. The ICO is also currently considering issuing penalties to three other companies for breaching the PECR.

Direct Selling

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the level of unsolicited international calls to residents in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: No such assessment has been made, but according to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), the vast majority of unsolicited international marketing calls received by UK consumers are made by, or on behalf of UK companies, as the product or service must normally have a direct relevance for consumers. Such calls are caught by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), which is enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
	I met with ICO, Ofcom and TPS in July and pressed for further improvements to be made in ICO's enforcement activity. Consequently, the ICO has increased the resources devoted to enforcement of PECR and on 28 November 2012 served monetary penalties totalling £440,000 to two illegal marketers responsible for distributing millions of spam texts. The ICO has also published on its website, a list of the most complained about companies that make calls to TPS registered consumers. If the companies fail to remedy their actions, then they could face further enforcement action. The ICO is also currently considering issuing penalties to three other companies for breaching the PECR.

Entertainments: Tickets

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to review regulations on the online resale of concert tickets by a person or company other than the concert promoter; and what her policy is on the removal of such sales from the exemption in section 6.2 of The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.

Edward Vaizey: Government have no plans to change the legislative framework concerning the secondary ticket market. We will, however, continue to monitor this area.

Local Broadcasting

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when local television licences for (a) Leeds, (b) Manchester and (c) Liverpool will be awarded.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom expect to announce the award of licence for each of these areas in February 2013.

Procurement

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2013, Official Report, column 604W, on procurement, which organisations were awarded research contracts that were not competitively tendered by her Department in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Hugh Robertson: The following organisations were awarded contracts:
	(a) 2010—Office for National Statistics (£728.82); Office for National Statistics (£21,737)
	(b) 2011—Office for National Statistics (£84.00); Office for National Statistics (£216.00)
	(c) 2012—GFK Retail and Technology Ltd (£389.00); Health and Safety Laboratory (£22,000)

Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of procurement contracts offered by her Department has been advertised on the Contracts Finder website since that website's inception.

Hugh Robertson: Up until end of December 2012 90% of eligible contracts have been published on Contracts Finder, the remaining 10% is due to be published as soon as possible.

Sports: Rural Areas

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department is taking to promote access to sports for disabled people in rural communities.

Hugh Robertson: holding answer 22 January 2013
	Improved access to sport for disabled people is a key strand of Sport England’s £l billion Youth and Community Sports Strategy and every sport now has specific targets/plans to improve access for disabled people for the first time. In December, they announced new investment of over £10 million in community sports projects for people with disabilities. Rural communities across England will benefit from these investments.

Tour de France

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with UK Sport on their support of the Tour de France in the UK in 2014.

Hugh Robertson: My officials and I have regular discussions with UK Sport on a wide range of issues which include major sporting events which the UK is either bidding for or hosting. These discussions have included the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biomass

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution he expects the combustion of biomass to make to air quality in the UK over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

Richard Benyon: Emissions of a range of air pollutants from combustion of biomass have been estimated for 2015 and 2020 by the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory.
	The projected emissions are shown in the following table. Biomass fuels include wood, straw and poultry litter, but exclude liquid and gaseous biologically derived fuels (transport fuels, sewage gas and landfill gas) and municipal solid waste which has a biological component.
	
		
			 Kilotonnes 
			 Pollutant 2015 2020 
			 Ammonia 1.87 1.87 
			 Oxides of nitrogen 8.70 20.86 
			 Coarse particles (PM10) 14.10 16.53 
			 Fine particles (PM2.5) 9.42 11.36 
			 Sulphur dioxide 0.478 0.478 
			 Non-methane volatile organic compounds 12.13 12.13 
		
	
	The effect of biomass boilers on air quality concentrations in 2020 has been estimated arising from the uptake of the Government's renewable heat incentive in its current form. The contribution of biomass to the population weighted mean concentration of coarse particles (PM10) is 0.037 microgrammes/m(3), of fine particles (PM2.5) is 0.034 microgrammes/m(3)( )and for nitrogen dioxide is insignificant.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: The policy implementation priorities of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs can be found in the Department's structural reform plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's business plan website
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at the implementation progress can be found in the Government's mid-term review document
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	published on 7 January 2013 and the Programme for Government Update
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/
	published on 9 January 2013.

Food: Waste Disposal

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the tonnage of food waste from the commercial catering sector sent to landfill annually; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The hospitality sector, including hotels, pubs, restaurants and quick-service restaurants, disposed of around 600,000 tonnes of food waste to landfill in 2009. This estimate is published in DEFRA's Food Statistics Pocketbook 2012. The Government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme is working to produce up-to-date figures.

Livestock: Transport

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to pursue a Europe-wide ban on the export of live animals for slaughter.

David Heath: The Government would prefer to see a trade in meat and germplasm rather than in live animals. However, it cannot ban what is a legitimate trade under European Union legislation. In addition, from the exchange of views expressed at the Agriculture Council meeting on 18 June 2012, on the report made by the EU Commission on the impact of the legislation on the welfare of animals during transport (Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005) it is clear that there would be little or no support among other member states if the UK sought to introduce such a ban within the EU.

Meat: Exports

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has made to (a) the European Commission and (b) his counterparts in the EU on the moratorium on desinewed meat.

David Heath: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to discuss this matter with the Commission. The next major development will be the publication of the European Food Safety Authority's scientific opinion, which is expected by 31 March. The FSA, DEFRA and Department of Health work closely together and I have recently discussed the moratorium on desinewed meat with the FSA Chairman and Chief Executive.

Natural Gas: Exploration

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish all correspondence relating to meetings between (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department and (i) Cuadrilla and (ii) any other fracking or shale gas companies in each of the last three years.

Richard Benyon: No official meetings have taken place in the last three years between DEFRA Ministers and Cuadrilla or with any other fracking or shale gas companies. Representatives of Cuadrilla did introduce themselves to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at a reception at the Conservative party conference. DEFRA officials visited Cuadrilla in December 2011 and have had conversations with this and other shale gas companies in the normal course of business. The visit was simply a fact finding engagement and there are no records of any conversations.

Plants: Disease Control

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) Forestry Commission and (b) Forest Research staff attended the most recent annual European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation seminar.

David Heath: The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) does not hold an annual seminar but it holds a series of events, working group meetings and seminars on a range of issues related to plant health and plant protection products.
	EPPO events include panels to assess the risk from recently identified pests and pathogens, as well as conferences or workshops for exchange of information about a particular pest or pathogen. Forestry Commission and Forest Research staff attend such events as appropriate. For example, a member of Forest Research staff joined an EPPO Forest Quarantine Panel meeting in February 2012. Both Forestry Commission and Forest Research staff also attended the recent EU COST Action FP1003 FRAXBACK meeting on Chalara fraxinea in November 2012.

Taxis

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on taxis in 2011-12.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA spent £62,680 on taxis in 2011-12.

EDUCATION

Academies: Marketing

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on (a) shows, (b) conferences, (c) seminars and (d) exhibitions to promote free schools and academies since May 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 11 June 2012
	In responding to demand for information from schools about the academies and free schools programmes, the Department for Education has spent £92,018.83 on conferences and seminars since May 2010.
	The Department has not provided funding for shows and exhibitions but the Department does, when requested, provide speakers at such events.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department provided to the Army Cadet Force last year; and what proportion of this funding was provided to schools in the independent sector.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 18 January 2013
	The Ministry of Defence funds the army cadet forces. The Department for Education did not provide any army cadet force funding in the financial year to the end of March 2012.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to promote the Army Cadet Force within the state schools sector; how often Ministers from his Department have raised this issue with colleagues in the Ministry of Defence; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 18 January 2013
	The Prime Minister announced the Government's proposals to expand the number of cadet forces in state schools in June last year. Information for schools and sponsors is available on our website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/militaryethos/cadetforces
	The Department for Education and Ministry of Defence have established a joint team to support expansion and have appointed a School Cadet Expansion Officer in each English Reserve Forces and Cadet Association region to work with state schools in their area.

Bullying

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many instances of bullying have been reported by his Department's staff since May 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 22 January 2013
	The Department's records show 12 instances of bullying have been reported by staff since May 2010.

Children: Social Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that social services respect and promote the core principle of the Children Act 1989 and support the upbringing of children with their family members wherever possible.

Edward Timpson: The Government is committed to the core principle of the Children Act 1989 that children should be cared for within their families whenever possible. It is undertaking a number of relevant reforms including the development of a high quality skilled and professional workforce and reviews to the Assessment Framework and Working Together.
	It is also supporting the implementation of a range of evidence-based interventions, some of which are specifically designed to improve parenting and reduce the need for young people to enter care or custody. Many children who cannot remain safely with birth parents live with wider family members. The Department issued statutory guidance in 2011 to ensure that every local authority has a published policy about the support and services they will provide for family and friends carers.

English Baccalaureate

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions his Department has had with the Church of England on the (a) possibility and (b) merits of including GCSE religious studies within the English Baccalaureate.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 22 January 2013
	The Department for Education has received correspondence from and had a number of discussions with representatives of faith groups and faith based education establishments, including the Church of England, on the inclusion of religious studies in the English Baccalaureate.
	The Government fully recognises the importance of RE, both to pupils' wider knowledge and to society as a whole, and its value as a demanding subject. We know pupils themselves find that RE offers them opportunities to engage with real world issues and to develop their understanding and appreciation of the beliefs and views of others. The teaching of RE remains compulsory throughout a pupil's schooling. There is time in the curriculum for pupils to take a GCSE in other subjects alongside an English Baccalaureate if they wish to do so, including Religious Studies GCSE, which has shown an increase in uptake in recent years.
	As RE is a compulsory subject, including it alongside other humanities subjects in the EBacc could reverse the recent increases in the take up of history and geography, which survey evidence suggests has been one of the positive impacts of the EBacc's introduction.

GCE A-level

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils from maintained schools and sixth form colleges achieved three A grades or better at A-level in each of the last five years.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 18 January 2013
	The information that you have requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			 Time series of pupils(1) aged 16 to 18(2) achieving(3) three or more A grades at A level in GCE/Applied GCE A level and Double Awards, years: 2007/08 to 2011/12(4) coverage: England (maintained schools and sixth form colleges)(5) 
			  Number of students achieving three or more A*-A grades(6) at GCE/Applied GCE A level and Double Awards 
			 2007/08 19,214 
			 2008/09 20,307 
			 2009/10 21,427 
			 2010/11 21,737 
			 2011/12 21,306 
			 (1) Pupils entered for a GCE or Applied GCE A-level or Double Award. (2) Age at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August. (3) Cumulative results obtained in the current and previous academic years. Where qualifications taken by a students are in the same subject area and similar in content, 'discounting' rules have been applied to avoid double counting qualifications. (4) 2011/12 figures are provisional, while other years are final. (5) State-funded schools include the results for all local authority (LA) maintained schools, Academies, Free Schools, LA maintained special schools and Pupil Referral Units (excludes Independent Schools and FE Sector Colleges). (6) An Applied GCE Double Award at grade A*A* counts as two grade A*s, AA counts as two grade As, an award at grade AB counts as one. Grade A* was introduced in 2009/10 therefore figures in 2007/08 and 2008/09 years cover the percentage of pupils achieving three or more A grades at GCE/Applied GCE A level and Double Awards. Source: Key Stage 5 attainment data

GCSE: East Yorkshire

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils in state schools in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency and (b) East Yorkshire achieved five GCSE passes, including mathematics and English, in each of the last five years.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 22 January 2013
	Information on the percentage of pupils in state-funded schools in Haltemprice and Howden constituency and East Riding of Yorkshire local authority achieving five or more GCSE passes, including mathematics and English can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Percentage of pupils(1, 2) at he end of key stage 4 (KS4) achieving 5+ GCSEs at A*-G grades including English and mathematics(3, 4) in Haltemprice and Howden constituency and East Riding of Yorkshire local authority(5)—Years: 2006/07-2010/11(6) 
			  2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 
			  No. of pupils at the end of KS4 % gaining 5+ GCSEs atA*-G inc English and maths No. of pupils at the end of KS4 % gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths No. of pupils at the end of KS4 % gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths No. of pupils at the end of KS4 % gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths No. of pupils at the end of KS4 % gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 4,099 93.6 4,098 94.1 4,015 94.1 3,962 95.3 3,952 95.7 
			 Haltemprice and Howden 1,636 90.5 1,484 90.6 1,435 93.2 1,512 93.5 1,402 94.3 
		
	
	
		
			 (1) Figures do not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. (2) Figures include all state-funded schools (including CTCs and academies). (3) Full GCSEs only have been included (Full GCSEs, double awards, accredited international certificates and their predecessor iGCSEs and AS levels. Figures from 2006/07-2008/09 exclude iGCSEs, 2009/10 and 2010/11 figures include accredited iGCSEs). (4) Including attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. (5) Parliamentary constituency figures are based on the postcode of the school. Local authority figures are based on the local authority maintaining the school, or in the case of CTCs and Academies, the local authority in which the school is situated. (6) Figures for 2006/07-2010/11 are based on final data. Source: National Pupil Database

Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to raise awareness in schools of the prevalence and effect of human trafficking within the UK.

Elizabeth Truss: Awareness of human trafficking can be covered by schools, should they wish to do so, as part of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education.
	It is up to schools to decide what to cover in PSHE education, according to the needs of their pupils.

Languages: Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the role of teaching (a) Arabic and (b) Mandarin Chinese in secondary schools;
	(2)  what proportion of state-funded secondary schools offer pupils the option of studying (a) Arabic and (b) Mandarin Chinese as a modern language.

Elizabeth Truss: Good teaching of foreign languages is very important. It improves the mind and helps pupils to understand the different cultures of people around the world and to understand the world in which they live. It is also important for the social and economic future of the country. We are encouraging languages through the English Baccalaureate. The choice of which foreign language to teach is for a school to determine.
	Research published in 2012 showed, that, in autumn 2011, 5% of state secondary schools offered Arabic at any level. 14% of state secondary schools offered Mandarin Chinese at any level.

Private Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children aged 11 to 16 years attend private schools in England and Wales.

Elizabeth Truss: Data on the number of pupils by school type for England is published as part of the Statistical First Release 'Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2012'. This is available on the Department's website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001071/index.shtml
	The latest data is for January 2012.
	7.5% of pupils aged 11 to 15 on 31 August 2011 (who would usually be in school years seven to 11) who were registered at schools in England, attended Independent or Independent Special Schools. This includes dual registration pupils.
	8.1% of pupils aged 11 to 16 on 31 August 2011 (who would usually be in school years seven to 12) who were registered at schools in England, attended Independent or Independent Special Schools. This includes dual registration pupils.
	Education in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Government, whose equivalent publication is available from their website:
	http://wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/schools2012/120711/?lang=en

Pupils: Languages

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils there are for whom English is a second language in schools in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) East Yorkshire and (c) England.

David Laws: holding answer 22 January 2013
	The following table gives information on first language as at January 2012 in Haltemprice and Howden constituency, East Riding of Yorkshire local authority and England. The latest information on first language has been published as part of the ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2012’ Statistical First Release at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001071/index.shtml
	
		
			 All schools(1): Number and percentage of pupils by first language(2,3), January 2012 
			  No. of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English % of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English(4) No. of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English % of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English(4) Unclassified(5) % unclassified(4) Total(3) 
			 England 1,007,095 15.2 5,616,845 84.6 16,235 0.2 6,640,175 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire local authority 815 1.9 41,440 98.1 (6)— (6)— 42,255 
			 Haltemprice and Howden constituency 340 2.7 12,485 97.3 0 0.0 12,825 
		
	
	
		
			 (1) Includes maintained primary schools, primary academies including free schools, maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges, secondary academies including free schools, maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies and pupil referral units. Excludes general hospital schools. (2) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. In pupil referral units, also includes pupils who are registered with other providers and further education colleges. (3) Pupils of compulsory school age and above were classified by first language. (4) The number of pupils by their first language expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils of compulsory school age and above. (5) Information was not sought or refused, also includes pupils where classification of first language is pending. (6) One or two pupils, or a percentage based on one or two pupils. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. There may be discrepancies between totals and the sum of constituent parts. Source: School Census

Schools: Sports

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department holds on the number of volunteer sports leaders and coaches working in schools to encourage participation in sport in (a) the West Midlands, (b) the Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council area and (c) Dudley North constituency.

Edward Timpson: The Department does not hold regional data on the number of volunteer sports leaders and coaches working in schools to encourage participation in sport. Sport England coordinated the recruitment and training of sport volunteers for the school games.

Schools: Sports

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if his Department will review the effect of spending on releasing P.E. teachers on school sport take-up and young people's health and wellbeing.

Edward Timpson: We have no such plans.
	The secondary PE teacher release funding was not ring-fenced, and we expected schools to use it for its intended purpose. At the time that it was announced, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), made clear that it would only be in place for academic years 2011/12 and 2012/13, and that we expected that schools would have embedded this practice within their core provision.

Schools: Sports

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what resources his Department has dedicated to identifying young athletes who are gifted and talented in schools.

Edward Timpson: The Department does not collect information about gifted and talented young athletes in schools.
	In July 2009, the previous administration decided to move from a central driven programme for gifted and talented children to a school-led approach. Following this move the Department no longer collects information about gifted and talented children on the annual schools census.

Special Educational Needs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to assist local authorities who are disproportionately affected by changes to funding for post-16 high needs provision; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: holding answer 9 January 2013
	The Education Funding Agency will ensure that local authorities are adequately funded during 2013/14 for students aged 16-24 with high needs. We are planning an increase in this funding of 9% since 2011/12. The Agency has been working with all local authorities to establish a fair basis for the distribution of these funds. If any local authority considers that the distribution methodology will have a disproportionate effect on their funding allocation, the Agency will look carefully at whether adjustments can and should be made. Local authorities have the opportunity, until 22 February, to submit such exceptional cases to the Education Funding Agency.

Special Educational Needs

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what support will be available for children currently in the (a) School Action and (b) School Action Plus programmes once each programme is abolished.

Edward Timpson: School Action and School Action Plus were brought in by the revised 2001 SEN Code of Practice as part of a graduated approach to meeting children's special educational needs. School Action is where a pupil's needs can be met within the school and School Action Plus is where extra or additional help from external specialists is needed.
	Local authorities, schools and other agencies are required to have regard to the guidance in the Code of Practice. In practice, the School Action and School Action Plus categories are used by different schools and local authorities in different ways.
	Our proposal, set out in the Green Paper—‘Support and Aspiration—A new approach to special educational needs and disability’, is to make changes that bring together the School Action and School Action Plus categories to help improve teaching and support for pupils with special educational needs.
	The change will not affect the overall availability of support for children with SEN; the aim is to promote better identification of need and associated provision. Ofsted's 2010 report—‘a statement is not enough’—showed that schools identify as having SEN many children whose needs could be met by improving teaching and learning for all, with individual goals for improvement. All children need to have provision that is suitable to them. More accurate identification has the potential to improve both the identification of specific needs and the effectiveness of specific SEN provision.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his Department (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session.

Elizabeth Truss: The data requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   2012 
			 PQ type Performance against standard May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 
			 Commons named day PQs          
			  Due for answer 57 75 51 (1)— 48 76 81 68 
			  Answered 55 73 50 n/a 47 75 81 67 
			           
			  Met parliamentary deadline (set by MP)         
			  Number 15 4 10 n/a 3 17 6 34 
			  Percentage 26 5 20 n/a 6 22 7 50 
			           
			  Answered 1-5 days late 26 29 28 n/a 9 32 37 14 
			  Answered 6 or more days late 14 40 12 n/a 35 26 38 19 
			  Unanswered on 22 January 2013 2 2 1 n/a 1 1 0 1 
			           
			 Commons ordinary written PQs          
			  Due for answer 143 122 130 (1)— 161 134 159 82 
			  Answered 143 121 130 n/a 156 132 156 77 
			           
			  Met parliamentary deadline (set by MP)         
			  Number 63 10 40 n/a 26 57 41 23 
			  Percentage 44 8 31 n/a 24 43 25 28 
			           
			  Answered 1-5 days late 57 33 63 n/a 66 50 74 27 
			  Answered 6 or more days late 23 78 27 n/a 64 25 41 27 
			  Unanswered on 22 January 2013 0 1 0 n/a 5 2 3 5 
			 (1 )Recess 
		
	
	The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a Sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  when he plans to respond to question 129781, tabled on 20 November 2012;
	(2)  when he plans to respond to question 129780, tabled on 20 November 2012.

Elizabeth Truss: The questions referred to by the hon. Member were answered on 21 January 2013, Official Report, column 41W.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Deloitte

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2013, Official Report, column 422W, on Deloitte, how many consultancy projects were provided by Deloitte in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

John Hayes: No consultancy projects were provided by Deloitte to the Department of Energy and Climate Change in 2010.
	In 2011 one consultancy project was let.
	In 2012, Deloitte were engaged to provide three consultancy projects.

Electricity: Prices

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what analysis his Department has conducted of the effects of VAT and environmental policies on the electricity bills of average households in the UK in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will publish the underlying data for any such analysis.

Gregory Barker: In November 2011, DECC published an assessment of the impact of energy and climate change polices on energy prices and bills, which is available online at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/aes/impacts/impacts.aspx
	As set out in Table Dl, energy and climate change policies are estimated to have represented, on average, around £89 (7%) of households energy bills in 2011 (before any rebates), with VAT representing around £60 (5%). However, accounting for improvements in energy efficiency as a result of policies and the receipt by eligible households of a Warm Home Discount rebate, energy and climate change policies are estimated to be adding just 2% on average to household energy bills in the UK in 2011 (compared to bills in the absence of these policies).
	DECC's assessment of the impacts of energy and climate change policies on gas and electricity prices and bills is being updated to reflect recent developments including the 23 November announcement of the HMT Levy Control Framework for low carbon electricity up to 2020-21, and will be published in due course.
	
		
			 Table Dl: Breakdown of average household gas, electricity and energy bill in 2011 
			  Real 2010 prices 
			  Gas bill Electricity bill Energy bill 
			  £ % £ % £ % 
			 Wholesale energy cost 339 51 261 43 600 48 
			 Transmission, distribution and metering 125 19 113 19 238 19 
			 Other supplier costs and margin 137 21 136 23 273 22 
			 Energy and climate change policies 28 4 61 10 89 7 
			 Of which:       
			 CERT Extension 20 3 17 3 35 3 
			 EUETS n/a n/a 20 3 20 2 
			 RO n/a n/a 17 3 17 1 
			 WHD 6 1 5 1 10 1 
			 CESP 2 0 1 0 3 0 
			 FITs n/a n/a 1 0 1 0 
			 Better billing 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 VAT (5%) 31 5 29 5 60 5 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 660 — 600 — 1,260 — 
			 Notes: 1. Figures may not add due to rounding. 2. Figures are before any WHD rebates. Source: DECC 2011.

Energy: Business

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the potential effects on energy bills for small and medium-sized businesses of the development of shale gas extraction.

John Hayes: Exploration for shale gas is at a very early stage in the UK, and no estimate can yet be made of the size of any economic reserve which may exist, or of the potential effects on energy bills which might result from its exploitation.

Energy: Taxation

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the Government's stance in relation to the proposed EU Energy Tax.

Sajid Javid: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	The Government's views on the European Commission's Energy Tax proposal are set out in the Explanatory Memorandum [9270/11] which was submitted to Parliament in June 2011.
	The UK has taken a strong principled opposition in ongoing negotiations on the Energy Taxation Directive against determining the structure or tax base member states use for taxes on energy products. We believe the focus should be on reviewing the appropriate levels of EU minimum energy tax rates (which were set in 2003).
	The Government believes that there is no need for a new mandatory EU wide dual tax base or a carbon tax.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2013, Official Report, column 425W, on Hinkley Point C Power Station, where the locations for those disposal facilities and repository will be.

John Hayes: No decisions have been taken on the location of the geological disposal facility. The process for siting the geological disposal facility, which is currently being followed in west Cumbria, was set out in the 2008 Managing Radioactive Waste Safely White Paper. It is based on voluntarism and partnership—the invitation for other local authorities to express an interest in the siting process, without commitment, is still open.
	I would also like to take this opportunity to expand on my answer to the right hon. Member of 10 January 2013, Official Report, column 425W, in respect of low level radioactive waste.
	Historically low level waste has been consigned to the low level waste repository near Drigg in Cumbria. A new vault has been constructed which, subject to planning permission and environmental permitting, will enable the continued use of this facility for disposals. It is engineered specifically for wastes that require specialised containment. Low level radioactive wastes that do not require specialised containment can be consigned to other appropriate sites, subject to planning permission and environmental permitting. Other facilities which are currently permitted to accept low level waste from the nuclear industry are the East Northants Resource Management Facility, and sites near Lillyhall in Cumbria and Clifton Marsh in Lancashire.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session.

Gregory Barker: Between May 2012 and 31 December 2012, 319 questions for written answer on a named day were tabled to DECC.
	Of these, 266 (83%) were answered on the named day, and 53 (17%) received a substantive reply after the named day.
	All questions have received a substantive reply.
	The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his Department (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session.

Gregory Barker: Between May 2012 and 31 December 2012, 933 ordinary written questions were tabled to DECC.
	No questions were answered after 30 days.
	All questions have received a substantive reply.
	The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carer's Allowance

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of households in receipt of two payments of carer's allowance in order that each person can care for the other.

Esther McVey: At February 2012 the number of cases where two individuals were both in receipt of a carer's allowance payment for caring for each other was 1,070. It is not possible to determine how many of these individuals are part of the same household without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Source:
	DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Contracts

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Google in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(2)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Dell CSC in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(3)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Amazon in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(4)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Oracle in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(5)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Symantec in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Mark Hoban: For Oracle, the Department for Work and Pensions awarded no contracts in 2010, no contracts in 2011 and five contracts in 2012.
	For Dell SCS, Amazon and Google, the Department for Work and Pensions awarded no contracts in 2010, 2011 or 2012.
	The Department for Work and Pensions, via the Government Gateway placed two separate orders in 2011 and two separate orders in 2012 to Symantec. In both years, these orders related to the renewal of pre-existing software licences. There were no orders placed in 2010 for Government Gateway use.

Employment and Support Allowance

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost is of an employment and support allowance appeal where someone had been incorrectly placed in the work-related category and on reassessment placed in the support category.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in the support group for Employment and Support Allowance; of those, how many will have their income reduced from what it would have been as a result of the Welfare Benefits Uprating Bill; and how their households are distributed between the equivalised income deciles.

Steve Webb: It is estimated that in 2015-16, following the completion of the migration of incapacity benefits claimants, around 1.0 million families will contain someone in the support group for employment and support allowance, of whom all will see a smaller overall increase than they would have, had the ESA personal allowance been up-rated by CPI. The following table provides the distribution of those affected by decile.
	
		
			 ESA support group Affected (million) 
			 Decile:  
			 1 0.2 
			 2 0.2 
			 3 0.2 
			 4 0.1 
			 5 0.1 
			 6 0.1 
			 7 0.1 
			 8 0.0 
			 9 0.0 
			 10 0.0 
			 Notes: 1. Numbers rounded to the nearest 100,000. 2. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 3. For households in which there are more than one ESA claimant the support group takes precedence. Source: DWP Policy Simulation Model (based on FRS 2008-09).

Financial Services: Disadvantaged

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made in allocating a previously announced £145 million fund to develop financial inclusion schemes as part of the introduction of universal credit.

Mark Hoban: Since announcing potential funding to develop new financial products for universal credit claimants in September 2012, we have been working closely with financial providers across the private, social and third sectors. We are continuing to consult with these providers and other stakeholders about the arrangements for these products and will announce the detailed approach and requirements in due course.

Hepatic Angiosarcoma

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2013, Official Report, column 324W, on hepatic angiosarcoma, if he will consider introducing assessments for people suffering from hepatic angiosarcoma through an expedited paper process instead of a physical assessment via Atos medical assessors.

Mark Hoban: The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) on which diseases and related occupations should be included ('prescribed') in the list of diseases for which Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) can be paid. This also includes recommendations on how claims for specific prescribed diseases should be treated for the purposes of claiming IIDB.
	Angiosarcoma of the liver is one of the conditions covered by the prescribed disease C24. As with any other prescribed disease, careful consideration is given to any advice the IIAC give about the disease, and whether there should be any change to the way the claims are treated under the Industrial Injuries Scheme.
	The IIAC has not made any recommendations to change the way claims for this disease are managed.

Housing

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which groups he proposes will be exempt from changes being applied to the underoccupancy penalty; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The under-occupancy reduction only applies to working age social sector tenants. However, people living in non-mainstream properties (for example mobile homes) and temporary or supported exempt accommodation will not be subject to a restriction.
	Rather than exempting specific groups of claimant we are adding a further £30 million a year from 2013-14 to the discretionary housing payment fund that is administered by local authorities. This is aimed primarily at two groups, people in significantly adapted accommodation and foster carers.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 7 January 2013, Official Report, column 124W, on local government finance, what assessment he has made of the cost of new burdens placed upon local authorities as a result of housing benefit changes; and if he will publish any such assessment.

Steve Webb: Funding of £14.8 million in respect of estimated new burdens in 2012-13 from the local housing allowance changes, and preparations for implementing the social sector size criteria and the benefit cap is being distributed to local authorities this month. Details have been published in a housing benefit circular, which can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/s2-2013.pdf
	Work is continuing to finalise estimates for 2013-14 and further details will be released shortly.

Mortgages: Repossession Orders

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what help his Department can provide to people who face eviction because of mortgage arrears accrued while they were unable to work due to treatment for cancer.

Mark Hoban: People who are unable to work because they are ill or disabled can claim employment and support allowance. Claimants who are entitled to income-related employment and support allowance may receive an additional element called support for mortgage interest. This makes a contribution towards the interest on eligible loans taken out to purchase the property occupied as the home, and specific loans for repairs and improvements which are necessary to maintain the home's fitness for habitation.
	When a new claim for income-related employment and support allowance is made, there is normally a 13 week waiting period before support for mortgage interest can be paid. Support for mortgage interest is calculated by applying a standard interest rate (currently 3.63%), and to eligible capital up to a limit of £200,000.

New Enterprise Allowance

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has considered the merits of extending eligibility criteria for the new enterprise allowance to individuals enrolled on a Work Programme scheme.

Mark Hoban: There are no current plans to change the eligibility criteria for the new enterprise allowance (NEA) to include Work programme participants. The NEA helps unemployed people who want to start their own business. It is a voluntary scheme available to people aged 18 and over who are claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) from day one of their claim. Eligibility for the NEA ends once a claimant has been referred to the Work programme.
	However, Work programme providers are free to design and offer support to best suit individual and local needs, including self-employment support.

Welfare State: Reform

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 7 January 2013, Official Report, column 124W, on local government finance, if he will place a copy of any documents describing the agreed process for assessing new administrative burdens on local authorities arising from welfare reforms in the Library.

Steve Webb: In assessing the new administrative burdens on local authorities arising from welfare reforms, the Department for Work and Pensions adheres to the “New Burdens Doctrine—Guidance for government departments” document, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	The document provides a step-by-step guide to the new burdens doctrine, including the definition of new burdens, the responsibility on departments for handling them, and the process which should be followed in all cases. It is publicly available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/5960/1926282.pdf

Welfare State: Reform

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 7 January 2013, Official Report , column 124W, on local government finance, what discussions have taken place between his Department and (a)  local authorities and (b) local government bodies to establish the extent of new burdens to be placed upon local authorities as a result of welfare reforms.

Steve Webb: Since the publication of the new burdens guidance by the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2011, the Department has been engaging with the relevant stakeholders to establish the extent of new burdens placed upon local authorities as a result of welfare reforms.
	Given the scale of departmental engagement taking place across the entire range of welfare reforms, it is not possible to comment on individual discussions. We continue working to ensure that local authorities and local government bodies are involved in the discussions of welfare reform issues directly affecting them, and that their views are given suitable consideration. However, while, the new burdens guidance document recommends discussing the new burdens with local government bodies, it makes clear that the Departments are under no obligation to agree the final assessments with them (paragraph 5.21).

Welfare State: Reform

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 7 January 2013, Official Report, column 124W, on local government finance, by what date he expects to announce his decision on the application of the new burdens doctrine to the effects of welfare reforms on local authorities.

Steve Webb: Both the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), and the Minister for Welfare Reform, the noble Lord, Lord Freud, have publicly committed to ensuring a fair application of the new burdens doctrine in respect of welfare reforms.
	The Department has completed the assessments, and transferred the funding to local authorities for the 2012-13 financial year, covering specifically:
	£3.6 million start-up costs prior to the 2013-14 implementation of new local provision following the abolition of the discretionary social fund (community care grants, and crisis loans for living expenses)
	£14.8 million for
	(a) implementation of changes to local housing allowance (LHA) (including the move to an annual uprating cycle and changes to the shared accommodation rate)
	(b) Implementation of the social sector size criteria
	(c) Changes to IT systems for both (a) and (b)
	(d) Implementation of the household benefit cap
	The new burdens assessments for the rest of the spending review period will be finalised over the next few weeks, to ensure the funding reaches local authorities in the new financial year.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work capability assessments were (a) carried out and (b) successfully appealed in (i) South Lanarkshire, (ii) Scotland and (iii) the UK in (A) 2010, (B) 2011 and (C) 2012.

Mark Hoban: The following tables show the number of initial employment and support allowance (ESA) work capability assessments (WCA) carried out in 2010, 2011 and January to May 2012 (the latest information available) in South Lanarkshire (table 1), Scotland (table 2) and Great Britain (table 3). The tables further show the number of appeals heard and overturned on initial fit for work decisions taken over this period. Information on appeals against other decisions is not available.
	The volumes of appeals heard in each cohort are likely to alter over time and change is likely to be most marked in more recent cohorts. This is because of the lengths of time it takes to submit an appeal and have it heard by HM Court Tribunal Service (HMCTS).
	
		
			 Table 1: Fit for work outcomes at the initial WCA and appeals heard and overturned, South Lanarkshire (January 2010 to May 2012) 
			 Year initial WCA was completed Number of work capability assessments Number of overturned appeals heard on fit for work decisions in the initial WCA 
			 2010 3,070 360 
			 2011 2,910 240 
			 January 2012 - May 2012 1,480 10 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Fit for work outcomes at the initial WCA and appeals heard and overturned, Scotland (January 2010 to May 2012) 
			 Year initial WCA was completed Number of work capability assessments Number of overturned appeals heard on fit for work decisions in the initial WCA 
			 2010 47,560 6,380 
			 2011 39,910 3,430 
			 January 2012 - May2012 20,840 570 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Fit for work outcomes at the initial WCA and appeals heard and overturned, Great Britain (January 2010 to May 2012) 
			 Year initial WCA was completed Number of work capability assessments Number of overturned appeals heard on fit for work decisions in the initial WCA 
			    
			 2010 434,570 42,140 
			 2011 355,610 24,730 
			 January 2012 - May 2012 183,040 2,080 
			 Note: Rounding (table 1 to 3): All volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: (Table 1 to 3): The data presented above come from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and HMCTS's appeals caseload data.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Military Covenant

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with the First and Deputy First Ministers on implementing the military covenant in Northern Ireland.

Michael Penning: I am in the process of meeting all the Northern Ireland parties to discuss the armed forces covenant and in the coming weeks shall be meeting the deputy First Minister.
	Yesterday I chaired a roundtable discussion with eight armed forces charities to discuss how the covenant is being applied in Northern Ireland.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what her Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Michael Penning: The top policy priorities of the Northern Ireland Office, and progress against each, are set out in the Northern Ireland Office Business Plan which I have placed in the Library of the House.

Economic Situation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive about economic development.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), has regular discussions with Northern Ireland Executive Ministers on economic development. The Government is committed to working with the NI Executive to rebalance the Northern Ireland economy, promote growth and support the creation of jobs.

JUSTICE

Crown Courts: Greater Manchester

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases heard at Crown courts in Greater Manchester in the last three months involving alleged rape, trafficking or grooming offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 have been adjourned for a period of at least (a) six, (b) nine and (c) 12 months.

Helen Grant: The available information required to answer this question is currently being collated. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available. A copy will be placed in the House Library.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Jeremy Wright: The policy implementation priorities of the Ministry of Justice can be found in the Department's structural reform plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's business plan website
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's mid-term review document
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	published on 7 January 2013 and the Programme for Government Update
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/
	published on 9 January 2013.

Dogs Act

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people were subject to proceedings in a magistrates' court for offences under the Dogs Act 1871 in 2012; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people have been prosecuted under section (a) 1(3), (b) 3(1) and (c) 3(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012; and if he will make a statement;

Jeremy Wright: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts under the requested sections of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, in England and Wales, in 2011, can be viewed in the following table.
	Court proceedings statistics for 2012 are planned for publication in May 2013.
	
		
			 Defendants proceeded against at magistrates court under selected sections of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, England and Wales, 2011(1, 2) 
			 Section of Act Proceeded against 
			 1(3) 288 
			 3(1) 1,089 
			 3(3) 59 
			 (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Offenders: Foreign Nationals

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign nationals have been convicted of serious criminal offences in the UK in each of the last five years; and how many are serving a custodial sentence.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not the specific circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify from this centrally held information the nationality of offenders convicted of criminal offences.
	As at 30 September 2012, there were 7,606 sentenced foreign national prisoners in the prison population.

Prisons

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost per prisoner place was (a) nationally and (b) at HM Prison Oakwood in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: The average annual direct cost per prison place for private and public sector prisons in England and Wales for financial year 2011-12 was £27,851. This is the latest period for which the figures are available. The direct cost is based on the local costs directly attributable to public and private prisons. Cost per prison place is the direct resource cost, divided by the number of baseline certified normal accommodation places in prisons. There are other related overhead costs that are met centrally and not included within the average annual direct cost.
	As part of the Government's Transparency Agenda, the Department publishes full details of average cost per prisoner and cost per place for each private and public sector prison in England and Wales after the end of the financial year. The information for financial year 2011-12 is published alongside the management information addendum to the NOMS annual report and accounts and available on the Department's website at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/prison-probation-performance-info
	A copy is also placed in the House Library.
	As HM Prison Oakwood opened in April 2012 a full year's costs are not available for the prison to be able to calculate an actual annual cost per prison place at this time. It is expected that when fully operational the direct operating cost at Oakwood will be in the region of £13,200 per place.

Prisons

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the expected outturn cost is for (a) HM Prison Oakwood and (b) all other prisons on average in England and Wales for (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.

Jeremy Wright: HM Prison Oakwood opened in April 2012 and the prisoner numbers have been gradually increasing since the opening. The latest forecast direct resource expenditure for HMP Oakwood for financial year 2012-13 year is £19 million. This excludes overhead costs met centrally. Outturn forecasts may also change during the course of the financial year to reflect changing operational needs.
	National Offender Management Service does not produce forecast outturn expenditure for prisons in England and Wales on an average basis. This is because it does not provide a useful source of data for comparison purposes as there are a number of factors which will cause differences in individual prison costs, such as the size, age, location and category of the prison, the mix of prisoners (including gender and age) and the internal regime and rehabilitation work followed. In addition the costs of public sector and private prisons are not directly comparable because of differences in scope, type of prisoner and financing method.
	Detailed prison budgets are not yet finalised for financial year 2013-14. Budgets will be set as part of the Department's regular annual budget allocation process. Allocations will be made on the basis of need and according to departmental priorities.
	As part of the Government's Transparency Agenda, the Department publishes full details of direct and overall resource expenditure and cost per prisoner and cost per place for each private and public sector prison in England and Wales after the end of the financial year. Figures are also available by prison function. The information for financial year 2011-12 is published alongside the management information addendum to the NOMS annual report and accounts and available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/prison-probation-performance-info
	A copy is also placed in the House Library.

Probation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the total budget of the Probation Service was in each year since 2007-08;
	(2)  what the budget was of each probation trust in England and Wales in each year since its inception;
	(3)  what the budget is for each of the probation trusts in England and Wales in 2012-13; and what budget he plans for each in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Jeremy Wright: The figures in the table show outturn expenditure details for financial years 2007-08 to 2011-12 and contract values agreed with Probation Trusts for financial year 2012-13. Figures in £ million (rounded).
	Year-on-year reductions in probation trust budgets have been achieved through streamlining back-office functions, allowing a higher proportion of the allocated funding to be spent on delivering front-line services to offenders, victims and to the courts.
	
		
			 £ million (rounded) 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Probation Services 845 897 899 875 821 814 
			 Notes: 1. Financial year 2007-08: Outturn figures are the Net Operating Costs recorded in the annual Consolidated Accounts of local Probation Boards. The accounts are available from the House Library. 2. Financial years 2008-09 to 2011-12: Outturn figures are taken from the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Agency annual accounts and supporting documents. 3. Financial year 2012-13: The overall contract values agreed with Probation Trusts for 2012-13 is £814 million. It should be noted that, in addition to these amounts, some funds are held centrally for specific offender related initiatives. These are not embedded in the budget and contract values and therefore excluded from the figures given. 4. Allocated budget amounts may vary throughout the financial year. Probation Trusts may also receive income from elsewhere. 
		
	
	Probation Trusts since Inception: Budgets
	Figures in the following table show the outturn expenditure details for six Probation Trusts initially formed in year 2008-09 and two further Probation Trusts in year 2009-10.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Probation Trusts 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Dyfed Powys Probation Trust 9.1 8.9 
		
	
	
		
			 Humberside Probation Trust 17.7 18.8 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Trust 14.8 15.3 
			 Merseyside Probation Trust 29.9 31.1 
			 South Wales Probation Trust 25.1 25.8 
			 West Mercia Probation Trust 15.8 15.5 
			 Greater Manchester Probation Trust — 53.5 
			 Lancashire Probation Trust — 24.2 
		
	
	The current structure of 35 Trusts covering England Wales was established on 1 April 2010.
	The following table sets outturn expenditure for financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 and contract values for financial year 2012-13 agreed with each Probation Trust—as at July 2012. Probation Trusts may also receive income from elsewhere.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Probation Trust 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Avon and Somerset 20.2 19.4 19.7 
			 Bedfordshire 9.5 9.0 9.0 
			 Cambridgeshire 10.0 9.5 9.5 
			 Cheshire 14.9 14.3 14.0 
			 Cumbria 8.8 8.1 8.0 
			 Derbyshire 13.8 12.7 12.6 
			 Devon and Cornwall 19.5 18.3 18.2 
			 Dorset 9.2 8.7 8.3 
			 Durham Tees Valley 22.8 21.8 21.5 
			 Essex 19.3 18.6 18.6 
			 Gloucestershire 7.6 7.1 7.1 
			 Greater Manchester 51.4 48.0 47.0 
			 Hampshire 25.2 23.0 22.7 
			 Hertfordshire 11.5 10.9 10.8 
			 Humberside 18.3 15.7 15.6 
			 Kent 21.8 19.5 19.2 
			 Lancashire 22.7 23.2 23.6 
			 Leicestershire 15.2 14.1 13.9 
			 Lincolnshire 9.2 8.8 8.7 
			 London 146.2 138.1 137.1 
			 Mersey side 31.9 29.0 28.7 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk 20.5 19.1 18.8 
			 York and North Yorkshire 9.9 9.5 9.4 
			 Northamptonshire 9.0 8.7 8.5 
			 Northumbria 28.5 27.8 27.7 
			 Nottinghamshire 19.0 18.0 17.8 
			 Wales 53.8 52.4 51.8 
			 South Yorkshire 25.4 23.6 23.3 
		
	
	
		
			 Surrey and Sussex 28.2 25.1 24.9 
			 Thames Valley 26.9 24.6 24.4 
			 Warwickshire 6.9 6.6 6.5 
			 West Mercia 15.3 14.4 14.3 
			 Staffordshire and West Midlands 72.5 68.6 68.1 
			 West Yorkshire 42.4 38.4 38.1 
			 Wiltshire 7.5 7.0 6.9 
		
	
	Budgets for periods 2013-14 and 2014-15
	Given the demanding settlement the Department received in the 2010 spending review we are continuing to finalise our savings plans for the remainder of the SR period, and as a result detailed budgets for individual trusts are not yet available.

Public Interest Lawyers

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many legal claims have been lodged by Mr Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers against the Government to date; and what has been the cost to the public purse of (a) legal aid payments in support of such claims and (b) responding to such claims.

Jeremy Wright: The number of claims brought against the Government, either by a specific lawyer or law firm; and, the cost to the Government of responding to those claims is not centrally recorded by this Department. Nor is it possible for the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to identify how much legal aid paid to a particular law firm was for cases conducted by individual members of that law firm as the payments are made to the firm as a whole, and not the individual members.
	The amounts paid by the LSC to public interest lawyers for undertaking legal aid work each year 2000-01 to 2011-12 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Total legal aid payments to public interest lawyers (£) 
			 2000-01 9,583 
			 2001-02 32,561 
			 2002-03 59,669 
			 2003-04 139,621 
			 2004-05 158,283 
			 2005-06 251,844 
			 2006-07 299,668 
			 2007-08 490,972 
			 2008-09 628,528 
			 2009-10 253,526 
			 2010-11 450,142 
			 2011-12 320,702

Publications

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 832W, on publications, if he will place a copy of his Department's staff magazine in the Library.

Helen Grant: The last published copy of the Ministry of Justice's “Insight” magazine that ceased production in July 2012 has been placed in the Commons Library.

Sentencing

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce jurisdictional variations in sentence severity in UK courts.

Jeremy Wright: Criminal justice is a devolved matter. There is a different sentencing and offence framework in each of the UK jurisdictions. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent courts, which will take into account all the circumstances of the offence and the offender in determining the appropriate sentence. In England and Wales, the courts must follow the sentencing guidelines unless it would be in the interests of justice to depart from them in a particular case. The independent Sentencing Council is responsible for issuing the guidelines and, among other things, must have regard to the need to promote consistency in sentencing.

CABINET OFFICE

Aviation

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many air miles were accumulated by each Minister in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office in 2012; how such air miles were used; and whether such air miles were donated to charity.

Francis Maude: As was the case under previous Administration, air miles accrued for official purposes are used in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Behavioural Insights Team

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on the Behavioural Insights Unit since its inception; and what projects the Unit has completed.

Oliver Letwin: I refer the hon. Member to answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 1 May 2012, Official Report, column 1534W, to the hon. Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves).
	A comprehensive overview of the team's work is published on the Cabinet Office website which can be found at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/behavioural-insights-team

Contracts

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Oracle in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(2)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Xerox in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(3)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to DELL CSC in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(4)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Symantec in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(5)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Amazon in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(6)  how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Google in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Francis Maude: As part of my Department's transparency programme, details of contracts awarded since January 2011 over the value of £10,000 and payments of over £25,000 are published on Contracts Finder:
	http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk/
	Information for previous years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Francis Maude: The policy implementation priorities of the Cabinet Office since May 2010 can be found in the Department's Structural Reform Plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's Business Plan Website at:
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's Mid-Term Review document, published on 7 January 2013 at:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	and the Programme for Government Update published on 9 January 2013, at:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/

Divorce

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the rate of divorce was in each (a) socio-economic, (b) ethnic and (c) religious group in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated January 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your request to ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the rate of divorce was in each (a) socio-economic, (b) ethnic and (c) religious group in the latest period for which figures are available. (139250)
	Divorce statistics are collated from D105 forms supplied by courts and used to record decree absolutes. These forms provide no information about the ethnic or religious group of those divorcing. The occupation of the husband and wife is recorded, but ONS does not derive socio-economic classification from this information. Therefore it is not possible to calculate divorce rates for socio-economic, ethnic or religious groups.

Employment Agencies

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department has spent on recruitment agencies in each month since July 2012.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office spent £64,857 on recruitment agencies during the period July to December 2012.

Olympic Games 2012

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which events at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics were attended by each Minister in his Department using tickets or passes for which they did not pay personally; and what the cost was of attending each such event for members of the public who used comparable seats or had comparable access.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), on 18 January 2013, Official Report, column 47WS.

Staff

Mike Freer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office spent £117,768 on recruitment agencies for posts recruited in 2012.
	The Cabinet Office does not hold a central record of outplacement agency fees, nor does it hold a central record of staff training costs.

Temporary Employment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what amount his Department spent on interim staff as defined by the National Audit Office in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: Since May 2010 spend on interim staff has reduced by £5,784,000. Spend in 2010-11 was 40% less than in 2009-10.
	Details of Cabinet Office spend on interim staff for the years 2010-11 and 2011-12 are available in the Cabinet Office Resource Accounts.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his Department (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session.

Francis Maude: The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the current Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments’ performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.

HEALTH

Babies: Screening

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance to maternity units and health visitors to routinely check for lip and tongue tie in newborn babies.

Daniel Poulter: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance on ‘Division of tongue tie for breastfeeding’, 2005, on a procedure to help babies with a condition known as ankyloglossia or tongue tie to breastfeed. It is for the local national health services to plan, develop and implement the use of any such guidance in order to meet the needs and circumstances of the local population.
	The Department's Public Health Outcomes Framework 2013-16, published in January 2012 includes ‘Breastfeeding initiation and prevalence of breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks after birth’ as one of the indicators for health improvement. The objective for this domain being that people are helped to live healthy lifestyles, make healthy choices and reduce health inequalities.
	The Government has also made the challenging commitment to have an extra 4,200 health visitors by 2015 who can provide support to women who want to breastfeed but may find it difficult.

Brain: Injuries

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to (a) assess and (b) access new technology for people with brain injuries and in a vegetative state.

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for assessing the clinical and cost effectiveness of new and existing health technologies and issues guidance to the national health service on their use.
	The NHS in England and Wales is statutorily obliged to fund treatments and medicines recommended by NICE through its technology appraisal process. Other guidance produced by NICE, such as medical technologies guidance and interventional procedures guidance, provides the NHS with evidence-based recommendations on the use of the treatments and technologies appraised. Their funding by the NHS is not mandatory.

Cancer: Surveys

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the NHS Commissioning Board on ensuring that the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey is conducted annually and on its importance as an improvement tool.

Anna Soubry: The Department has approved a survey for 2012-13 to enable us to identify and build on progress that has already been made, as highlighted by the 2010 and 2011-12 cancer patient experience surveys, and target our efforts to continue to improve patients' experience of national health service cancer care. However, from April 2013, the responsibility for such surveys will lie with the NHS Commissioning Board.
	We are in active discussions with the board about the importance of the survey as an improvement tool, and analysis and publication of the results of the 2012-13 survey, due in summer 2013. We are also discussing with the board the novation of the framework contract with our survey supplier, Quality Health, which runs to February 2015. It will be for the board to decide on future surveys.

Dementia

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to tackle variations in diagnosis rates of dementia across the UK.

Norman Lamb: Improving diagnosis rates for dementia in England is a priority for the Government and we want to see both an increase in the overall rate and a reduction in the current regional variation. Diagnosis rates for dementia in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved Administrations.
	Dementia has been prioritised by both the Department through the NHS Mandate and by the NHS Commissioning Board through their planning guidance and we expect clinical commissioning groups to make measurable progress in ensuring timely diagnosis.
	From April 2013, local authorities will be mandated to offer NHS Health Checks to everyone eligible every five years, and to raise awareness of dementia and the existence of memory services for those aged 65 to 74.

Dementia

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the announcement by his Department of 25 October 2012 that £50 million will be spent on care homes and hospital wards for people with dementia, on what this additional funding will be spent; and if he will place the details of such spending in the Library.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made £50 million capital funding for use during 2013-14 available to national health service trusts and local authorities in England to work with providers and create care environments to help people with dementia live well with the condition. This investment will deliver physical improvements and knowledge-based evidence in NHS and social care environments that provide care for people with dementia through a range of national pilot projects.
	NHS trusts and local authorities were invited to submit 'stage one expressions of interest' to apply for this capital funding by 16 January 2013. Information about the bids that have been successful at stage one will be made available by 28 February 2013. At this point 10%. of the available funding will be released to successful applicants. Full approval of more detailed “stage two” bids will be confirmed by 14 June and details of the projects approved will be placed in the Library.

Dental Services

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS dentistry is included in the coalition agreement to protect front-line patient services through a real terms budget increase; and what proportion of efficiency savings will be directed back into NHS dentistry.

Norman Lamb: National health service dentistry is part of NHS primary care services within the overall NHS budget. The commitment to recycle NHS efficiency savings to the front line applies to the NHS as a whole rather than to individual areas, to allow commissioners to best meet the needs of their local populations. The national NHS dental expenditure has in fact increased from £2.817 billion in 2010-11 to £2.859 billion in 2011-12 and last year an additional £28 million was allocated for additional in year funding to further increase dental access.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The policy implementation priorities of the Department of Health can be found in the Department's structural reform plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's business plan website:
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's mid-term review document, published on 7 January 2013, and the Programme for Government Update, published on 9 January 2013:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the National Association of Health Stores on potential effects on independent food retailers of setting maximum permitted levels under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements directive;
	(2)  what discussions took place at his most recent meeting with the European Health Commissioner, Tonio Borg; whether he discussed the (a) likely timelines for the future setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements directive and (b) potential extension of the scope of that directive to include supplements containing ingredients of plant, fish and animal origin; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: There have not been any recent discussions with the National Association of Health Stores. In 2009, the association provided Government officials with an assessment of their member's views on the impact of setting maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements, according to provisions of Article 5 of the European Union Food Supplements directive.
	The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), met with the European Health Commissioner on 17 January 2013, emphasizing the importance that any future proposals for vitamins and minerals in food supplements should be based on science and safety, to allow for the highest safe maximum levels. The nature of the United Kingdom market and potential impact on availability of thousands of products was underlined.
	The likely timelines for the future setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements directive and the potential extension of the scope of that directive to include supplements containing ingredients of plant, fish and animal origin were not discussed at the meeting.
	Commission officials have indicated that discussions on the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals are not planned within the current work programme.
	The Commission concluded, in its report of 5 December 2008 on the use of substances other than vitamins and minerals in food supplements, that laying down specific rules applicable to these substances is not justified.

Fertility

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the ability of clinical commissioning groups to commission fertility services on a more equitable basis than primary care trusts;
	(2)  what safeguards are in place to prevent clinical commissioning groups from totally decommissioning IVF services.

Anna Soubry: Commissioning decisions made by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local healthcare needs. This will enable CCGs to work closely with secondary care, other health and care professionals and with community partners to design joined up services that make sense to patients and the public.
	We will continue to expect that those involved in commissioning infertility treatment services are fully aware of the importance of having regard to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) fertility guidelines. The NHS Commissioning Board has stated its intention to communicate with CCGs on this subject providing some supportive commissioning resources, following publication of the revised NICE guideline.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will have general intervention powers in relation to CCGs, should it be satisfied that a CCG is failing or has failed to discharge any of its functions, or there is a significant risk that it will fail to do so.

Maternity Services

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the NHS implements the guidelines published by NICE on 12 December 2012 regarding early pregnancy services;
	(2)  which bodies within the NHS are responsible for leading the implementation of guidelines for pregnancy services.

Daniel Poulter: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline on ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage offers best practice advice on the care of women with early pregnancy complications. Once NICE guidance is published, health professionals and the organisations that employ them are expected to take it fully into account.
	Implementation of the guidance is the responsibility of local national health service commissioners and providers.

Midwives

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many newly-qualified midwives there were in each year since 2001; and how many registered midwives there were in the NHS in each such year.

Daniel Poulter: The Higher Education Statistics Agency is the official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education. The following table shows the number of midwifery graduates from 2002-03 to the latest available for 2009-10 for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The first destinations of leavers from Higher Education Survey was carried out in 2002-03.
	
		
			 Year of graduation Graduates from midwifery courses 
			 2002-03 1,030 
			 2003-04 1,245 
			 2004-05 1,135 
			 2005-06 1,355 
			 2006-07 1,365 
			 2007-08 1,485 
			 2008-09 1,425 
			 2009-10 1,520 
			 Notes: 1. Subject information is shown as full person equivalents (FPEs) in the table. FPEs are derived by splitting student instances between the different subjects that make up their course aim. 2. Covers graduates of all domiciles from full-time and part-time postgraduate and undergraduate courses. 3. Covers full-time, part-time and voluntary employment and work and further study. 4. Based on the Standard Occupational Classification. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency destinations of leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey. 
		
	
	The Information Centre for health and social care collects data on the number of registered midwives in the national health service. The following table shows the number of registered midwives in England in each of the last 10 years.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community, health services: Registered midwives in England as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Registered midwife (full-time equivalent) 
			 2001 17,571 
			 2002 17,566 
			 2003 17,855 
			 2004 18,137 
			 2005 18,326 
			 2006 18,380 
			 2007 18,751 
			 2008 18,896 
			 2009 19,496 
			 2010 20,126 
			 2011 20,519 
			 Notes: 1. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. Figures exclude bank staff. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.

NHS: Finance

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 689W, on hospital building, what the maximum loan facility available from the Department Foundation Trust's Financing Facility is.

Daniel Poulter: Loan applications from national health service foundation trusts are assessed against the individual Prudential Borrowing Limit for each foundation trust set by Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts. There is no theoretical maximum limit on the loan facility but a primary consideration in taking decisions on the provision of loans is that repayment of the loan is affordable to the trust.

NHS: Pay

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the average salaries of (a) registered social workers and (b) other healthcare professionals.

Daniel Poulter: In 2011, the average salary for a social worker employed by a council with social services responsibilities in adult services was £31,200(1). Data for social workers employed in the private and voluntary sector is collected by Skills for Care through the national minimum data set for social care, which is not a mandatory collection for employers.
	Information for social workers in the national health service is not held centrally.
	The entry level for social workers in the NHS employed under agenda for change terms and conditions of service is band 5 (£21,176 minimum) rising to band 8b for a social care programme manager/assistant director of social services (£55,945 maximum).
	The following table(2) shows the mean basic pay per full-time equivalent (FTE) and per person and the mean total earnings per person for other healthcare professionals employed in the NHS. The latest figures available is for the 12 months to September 2012.
	(1 )Personal Social Services: Staff of Social Services Departments at 30 September—England, 2011. Health and Social Care Information Centre
	(2) NHS Information Centre NHS staff earnings estimates to September 2012.
	
		
			 12 months to September each year 
			  Mean basic pay (FTE) (£) Mean basic pay (per person) (£) Mean total earnings (per person) (£) 
			 Staff group 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 
			 Hospital doctors (excluding locum) 57,672 58,456 53,394 54,074 72,987 73,457 
			 Of which:       
			 Consultants 87,113 87,181 82,349 82,315 110,505 109,651 
			 Registrars 37,022 37,164 35,592 35,909 53,189 53,365 
			 Other doctors in training 25,937 26,003 25,079 25,686 35,870 36,655 
			 Qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors 30,265 30,481 26,421 26,645 30,315 30,560 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 34,208 34,354 29,219 29,304 32,159 32,180 
			 Notes: Basic pay is the “standard” basic pay paid to an individual, which is normally a factor of their AfC spine point and hours worked. Total earnings is the total amount earned by an individual. In addition to basic pay, it includes payments for on-call, shift working and overtime, clinical excellence and distinction awards, location payments, recruitment and retention pay and other payments such as occupational absence and protected pay.

NHS: Staff

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed on zero-hour contracts in the NHS.

Daniel Poulter: Data is not held centrally on the numbers of staff who have zero hour contracts in the NHS.

Obesity: Alcoholic Drinks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of any link between alcohol abuse and obesity.

Anna Soubry: The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the link between alcohol misuse and obesity.
	The Government's ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England’, October 2011, states that alcoholic drinks can be high in calories and contribute to the energy imbalance that can lead to being overweight and obesity. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.

Obesity: Alcoholic Drinks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of the calorific content of alcoholic drinks.

Anna Soubry: The Government is committed to improving the labelling of alcoholic drinks, which would help make people more aware of how much alcohol they are drinking, what the guidelines are and what the risks are, including for those who are pregnant.
	The Department has discussed the possible inclusion of calorie content on labels with representatives of the alcohol industry on a number of occasions.
	The new EU Food Information Regulation allows companies to provide, for the first time, a voluntary energy declaration without the need .to give full nutrition information. The regulation also requires the European Commission to review alcohol labelling by December 2014. The Commission may accompany its report with proposals on mandatory energy labelling.

Obesity: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) children and (b) adults were (i) obese and (ii) overweight when measured by body mass index in Birmingham, Hall Green constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Anna Soubry: There are two sources of data from which relevant information can be obtained—the Health Survey for England (HSE) and the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). Neither source can be used to provide information in the exact format requested.
	Tables of information from the HSE and NCMP have been placed in the Library and are available from the following links:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse11trendtables
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse11report
	www.ic.nhs.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=10135&topics= 0%2fPublic+health&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1#top

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organ donors supplied (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five or more organs in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of organs donated by deceased donors, United Kingdom, 2008-12 
			 Number of organs 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 1 31 33 45 64 52 
			 2 178 216 252 257 317 
			 3 247 264 269 304 332 
			 4 229 225 249 203 231 
			 5 or more 199 193 200 228 233 
			 Total 884 931 1,015 1,056 1,165 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of organs donated by living donors, UK, 2008-12 
			 Number of organs 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 1 979 1,018 1,057 1,062 1,063 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Palliative Care

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that decisions to put people on the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) involve patients and families before and during the course of the independent review of the LCP.

Norman Lamb: Communication is a fundamental part of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP). As set out clearly in the guidance on the Pathway, where it is possible to do so, it is essential that medical teams discuss the LCP with the patient, their families or their carers if they are considering its use. The independent review will be looking at how the LCP is being used, in practice and will make recommendations on its future use but in the meantime, health care teams must ensure that they communicate fully with patients and families.

Palliative Care

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the independent review into the Liverpool Care Pathway will also review other end of life care pathways which are used.

Norman Lamb: The Liverpool Care Pathway is not the only integrated care pathway (ICP) for care at the end of life, but it is the most commonly used.
	The terms of reference for the independent review of the Liverpool Care Pathway, chaired by Baroness Neuberger, focus primarily on the Liverpool Care Pathway. These can be found at:
	http://mediacentre.dh.gov.uk/2013/01/15/independent-review-of-liverpool-care-pathway-to-be-chaired-by-baroness-neuberger/
	Any recommendations for improving the Liverpool Care Pathway are likely to have relevance for ICPs for care at the end of life.

Radon Gas: Health Hazards

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation has been conducted by (a) his Department and (b) the Health Protection Agency of the potential health effects on householders of the use of shale gas obtained from hydraulic fracturing containing naturally occurring radon gas.

Anna Soubry: The Health Protection Agency is currently completing an initial assessment of the potential areas of public health impact that might arise from the environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). The study, which considers a range of natural and man-made chemicals and contaminants, including radon gas, is currently in draft with an intention to publish it in the near future. The review will include a study on how radon levels in homes may be affected.

Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received (a) the BCG vaccine and (b) a tetanus vaccine in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: We are able to provide the following information:
	BCG and reinforcing dose of tetanus
	Figures on the numbers of persons who received the BCG vaccination and the number of reinforcing doses of diphtheria, tetanus and polio (Td/IPV) given in the last five years (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12) are collected through the KC50 return and shown in Table 1, as follows(1):
	(1) The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) has been advised by Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust that the figures they reported on the number of children aged one year and over who had received BCG vaccinations were over reported for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. This has an impact on regional and national BCG vaccination figures for those years. In light of this, the HSCIC is undertaking a general review of BCG and Td/IPV figures from the KC50 data collection for 2008-09 to 2010-11. It is likely that revised figures will be published for BCG and it may also be necessary to publish revised figures for Td/IPV. While this work is in progress the HSCIC recommends that some caution should be exercised when using the Td/IPV figures and that the BCG figures are likely to be substantially over reported and should be used with extreme caution.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of persons receiving BCG vaccinations and number of reinforcing doses of diphtheria, tetanus and polio given to school leavers: England, 2007-08 to 2011-12(1) 
			  Number of persons receiving BCG vaccinations Number of reinforcing doses of Td/IPV given to school leavers (booster) 
			 Year(1) All ages Age 13-18 
			 2007-08 217,294 383,615 
			 2008-09(2) 239,186 413,476 
			 2009-10(2) 223,167 413,497 
			 2010-11(2) 225,316 446,449 
			 2011-12 181,079 443,366 
			 (1) Each year some trusts report quality issues with data submitted through the KC50 data collection (e.g. data not available, under or over reporting). Further information on reported issues can be found in the NHS Immunisation Statistics reports for the relevant year available on the HSCIC website at: www.ic.nhs.uk (2) Figures for 2008-09 to 2010-11 are subject to revision following information recently received from Tower Hamlets PCT that their figures were over-reported in these years. Source: KC50, Parts A, B and C 
		
	
	Tetanus (primary immunisation course)
	Information on childhood vaccination coverage is collected through the UK COVER collection. Figures on the numbers of children who had completed a primary immunisation course against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenza type b vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib) at 12 months are shown in Table 2 along with coverage (the number of persons immunised as a proportion of the eligible population). Table 2 also shows the number of children who had received the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio booster (DTaP/IPV) at five years of age.
	
		
			 Table 2: Completed primary courses and boosters—coverage and number of children immunised by their first and fifth birthdays: England, 2007-08 to 2011-12 
			  Diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, Hib (DTaP/IPV/Hib) Diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis 
			  Primary Booster 
			 Year of 1st/5th birthday Coverage Number vaccinated by their 1st birthday Number vaccinated by their 5th birthday Coverage 
			 2007-08 550,858 91.3 423,820 77.5 
			 2008-09 602,039 92.0 479,687 80.1 
			 2009-10 622,326 93.6 515,792 84.8 
			 2010-11 635,073 94.2 532,815 85.9 
			 2011-12 649,591 94.7 564,322 87.4 
			 Note: Each year some trusts report quality issues with data submitted through the COVER data collection (e.g. issues associated with Child Health Information Systems). Further information on reported issues can be found in the NHS Immunisation Statistics reports for the relevant year available on the HSCIC website at: www.ic.nhs.uk Source: COVER 
		
	
	The tetanus vaccine is not given on its own. Children should receive a primary course of three doses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib 5 in 1) at two, three and four months and then a booster dose of DTaP/IPV vaccine three years after completion of the primary course. Coverage of the primary course of tetanus is measured at 12 months and coverage of the booster dose is measured at five years. A reinforcing dose of tetanus is given to school leavers as part of the Td/IPV vaccination.
	The UK BCG immunisation programme aims to immunise those at increased risk of developing severe disease and/or of exposure to tuberculosis infection.
	Most of the figures in Tables 1 and 2 are available from the HSCIC's annual publication, NHS Immunisation Statistics. These publications are available on the HSCIC website:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/

Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received the HPV vaccine to date; and what steps his Department is taking to promote take-up of this vaccine.

Anna Soubry: This answer represents all those given the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as part of the national programme. It does not include those who have had it privately. Information about the number of girls who have had the HPV vaccine administered since the programme started in September 2008 to October 2012; which are the latest available data, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 HPV vaccines administered to females since the start of the programme September 2008 to October 2012 
			 Academic years Total number of girls Girls receiving at least one dose Girls receiving at least two doses Girls received all three doses 
			 Females born 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1998     
			 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11(1) 2,493,698 1,880,248 1,797,956 1,640,854 
			      
			 Females born 1 September 1998 to 31 August l999     
			 2011-12(2) (provisional figure) 293,954 266,338 263,259 255,234 
			      
			 Females born 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2000     
			 2012-13(3) (provisional figure for September and October 2012 only) 288,147 199,962 (4)17,098 (5)— 
			 Total doses administered — 2,346,548 2,078,313 1,896,088 
			 (1) Calculation based on HPV Annual Report 2010/11 (Table 1). https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/immunisation/files/2012/03/120319_HPV_UptakeReport2010-11-revised_acc.pdf (2) Provisional annual data for routine cohort, year 8 for the HPV Annual survey 2011-12. https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/immunisation/files/2013/01/2900744_HPV_AnnualVaccineUptake11-12_acc.pdf (3) Provisional cumulative monthly data for routine cohort, year 8 (September and October 2012) in the HPV monthly survey 2012-13. https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/immunisation/files/2012/12/HPV_VaccineUptake_October2012_acc1.pdf1.pdf The 2012-13 data represent only two months of a 12 month delivery programme and most females have not yet received their 2(nd) and 3(rd) doses. (4) Many will not yet have been offered this dose. (5) 3(rd) dose is offered five months after 1(st) dose so not applicable. 
		
	
	The Department is helping to promote uptake of HPV vaccine, by:
	producing information leaflets for parents, girls and health care professionals;
	providing online information for parents and girls on NHS Choices;
	providing national guidance on HPV vaccination for health care professionals using the publication, ‘Immunisation against infectious diseases’ also known as the (Green Book) which contains clinical detail on HPV vaccination; and
	liaising with strategic health authority immunisation leads and primary care trust immunisation coordinators.
	The HPV vaccination programme has been a considerable success and more than 5 million doses have been given so far in the United Kingdom, with among the highest rates of HPV vaccine coverage achieved in the world. The high level of coverage achieved in 2008-09 and 2009-10 for the routine cohort has been exceeded in 2010-11, with 84.2% of 12- to 13-year-old females completing the three-dose course.

Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received the Hepatitis B vaccine in each of the last five years; and if he will estimate the number of people who have received this vaccine as a result of their line of work.

Anna Soubry: There are no data on the number of people who have received this vaccine as a result of their line of work. Information is available on the numbers of people in groups at increased risk of infection. Immunisation against hepatitis B is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Hepatitis B immunisation of babies born to mothers with hepatitis B infection 
			 Financial year (1 April to 31 March) Number of primary care trusts (PCTs) reporting (total number of PCTs) Number of at risk babies receiving 3rd dose of hepatitis B vaccine by first birthday Number of at risk babies receiving 4th dose of hepatitis B vaccine by second birthday 
			 2007-08 114 (152) 1,017 583 
			 2008-09 109 (152) 1,173 773 
			 2009-10 112 (152) 1,506 1,021 
			 2010-11 123 (151) 1,586 1,048 
			 2011-12 113 (150) 1,933 1,239 
			 Notes: 1. This table shows, by financial year, the number of babies born to hepatitis B positive mothers who completed a three dose schedule by their first birthday and the number completing a fourth dose by their second birthday. 2. It should be noted that these data are incomplete as not all PCTs reported and within PCTs the data may be incomplete. Also, these figures will not include the number of babies who received only one or two doses in each year. All these factors contribute to an underestimate of the numbers receiving Hep B vaccine. Source: Health Protection Agency 
		
	
	
		
			 Hepatitis B immunisation of prisoners on reception 
			  Total prisoner throughput Number vaccinated within one month of reception 
			 2007 209,850 32,730 
			 2008 193,967 38,308 
			 2009 167,810 35,752 
			 2010-11 (April to March) 251,284 63,770 
			 2011-12 (April to March) 188,735 44,398 
			 Notes: 1. 2007-09 data are by calendar year. 2010-11 and 2011-12 data are for financial years and are provided from NHS South West (now NHS South). 2. Numbers vaccinated and throughput will be under represented where prisons have not submitted data. Source: Health Protection Agency 
		
	
	Hepatitis B immunisation is recommended for individuals at increased risk of infection because of lifestyle, occupation or other factors. Hepatitis B immunisation for occupational risks will usually depend on an individual risk assessment of likelihood and frequency of exposure, which makes it difficult to estimate the number of individuals at occupational risk who have received the vaccine.
	
		
			 Hep B vaccine data for Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics in England, 2007-11 
			 Calendar year (January to December) 1st dose 2nd dose 3rd dose 
			 2007 22,320 — — 
			 2008 25,523 — — 
			 2009 25,027 — — 
			 2010 25,858 — — 
			 2011 26,688 11,610 10,797 
			 Notes: 1. Data are sourced from the KC60 return (2007-2008) and the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset (GUMCAD) (2009-2011) from GUM clinics in England. 2. Data provided do not represent, and cannot be used to calculate, vaccination coverage. 3. Data on 2nd and 3rd Hep B vaccinations are not available prior to 2011. 4. Data on 2nd and 3rd Hep B vaccinations are sourced from the phased introduction of SHHAPT codes during 2011. Therefore, data are incomplete. (Sexual Health and HIV Activity Property Type (SHHAPT) codes, previously known as KC60 codes) Source: Health Protection Agency

WALES

Members

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had on access for hon. Members to the Civil Service acting for the Welsh Government to raise matters of constituents' interests.

David Jones: I had no such discussions.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Office's top three policy implementation (a) successes and (b) failures have been since May 2010.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The policy implementation priorities of the Cabinet Office since May 2010 can be found in the Department's Structural Reform Plan, progress against which is reported on the Government's Business Plan Website at:
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan
	A broader look at implementation progress can be found in the Government's Mid-Term Review document, published on 7 January 2013 at:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	and the Programme for Government Update published on 9 January 2013, at:
	http://midtermreview.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/programme-for-government-update/

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships were created in Barnsley Central constituency from May 2010.

David Willetts: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock), on 20 December 2012, Official Report, column 862W, in which he provided Apprenticeship starts in Barnsley Central parliamentary constituency by age and quarter since May 2010.

Consumer Focus

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the budget of Consumer Focus was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13 to date.

Jo Swinson: The information requested is included in the following table. This provides a breakdown of the budget between funding for the energy and postal sectors (recovered through a levy) and BIS funding for general ‘Rest of the Economy’ consumer work.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Financial year Energy Post BIS Total 
			 2009-10 6.50 3.82 4.68 15.00 
			 2010-11 5.53 2.90 4.93 13.36 
			 2011-12 577 3.12 3.85 12.74 
			 2012-13 5.77 3.11 2.70 11.58

HMV

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to reviewing the rules on gift vouchers to protect consumers following the entry into administration of HMV.

Jo Swinson: I have no plans to review the rules.
	Gift voucher holders are unsecured creditors of a company and, should it become insolvent, they rank equally with all other unsecured non-preferential creditors.
	The decision on whether or not to honour these will be one for the administrator to make depending on the circumstances of the case and in line with their duty to act in the interests of all creditors. Voucher holders will be pleased that the administrators for HMV have felt able to honour the vouchers in this case.

New Businesses: Young People

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd of 14 January 2013, Official Report, columns 577-8W, on young people in business, for what reasons data on start-up loans is not collected or held by constituency.

Michael Fallon: The Start-Up Loans programme is delivered across England and not defined by, or monitored against, constituency boundaries. However, I have asked my officials to review this and any potential cost implications to Government that may occur as a result.

Office of Fair Trading

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many enquiries have been made to the Office of Fair Trading in each of the last 30 years.

Jo Swinson: Contact volumes to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) since 2002 are as follows:
	
		
			  Written contacts Telephone contacts 
			 2002 9,020 n/a 
			 2003 12,867 n/a 
			 2004 23,135 50,886 
			 2005 26,274 69,723 
			 2006 25,246 49,159 
			 2007 26,897 83,098 
			 2008 28,201 93,042 
			 2009 24,251 72,173 
			 2010 20,349 64,646 
			 2011 20,208 66,421 
			 2012 20,293 62,542 
			 Total 236,741 611,690 
			 n/a = not available. 
		
	
	Information relating to contact volumes prior to the introduction of the OFT's current case management systems was not held centrally, and the OFT is therefore unable to provide reliable contact volumes prior to 2002 for written contacts and 2004 for telephone contacts.

Overseas Trade: Commonwealth

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to promote Commonwealth trade.

Michael Fallon: Through UK Trade and Investment the Government continues to give the highest priority to encouraging and helping UK companies to export to Commonwealth and other markets where there are major opportunities. To this end the Prime Minister has visited a number of Commonwealth markets. In October 2012 the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), visited Nigeria and South Africa. The Commonwealth is a natural place for us to do business. Among its members are some of the world's fastest growing economies such as India, Nigeria, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore.

Pay

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider sponsoring a promotional campaign to promote to business the potential advantages of paying the living wage.

Jo Swinson: The Government supports the living wage and encourages businesses to take it up where possible. Government sponsored campaigns are aimed at promoting coalition policy, in particular in areas where communication by private or third sector organisations are insufficient or non existent.
	For the lowest paid workers, the Government's aim is to have a minimum wage rate that helps as many low-paid workers as possible, while making sure that we do not damage their employment prospects by setting it too high. We concentrate our efforts to ensure that workers and businesses are aware of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rate and also that they are enforced.
	In addition to the minimum wage, the Government is doing everything it can to help all working people on low pay with the cost of living. That is why we are cutting income tax for the low paid and taking 2.2 million people out of tax altogether.

Pay

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that (a) his Department and (b) all non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible pay the living wage to all employees.

Jo Swinson: The Government supports the living wage and encourages businesses to take it up where possible. However, when setting wages we need to take into account cost, employment, and the effect on services therefore the decision on what wages are set are for employers and workers.
	As the National Minimum Wage is statutory we make every effort to communicate those rates and enforce their application. This is to help achieve the Government's aim of having a minimum wage rate that helps as many low-paid workers as possible, while making sure that we do not damage their employment prospects by setting it too high. In addition, we are cutting the income tax of the low paid and have already taken 2.2 million out of tax.
	All BIS employees are paid above the living wage.

Pay

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Ministerial colleagues to discuss the living wage.

Jo Swinson: No formal conversations with other ministerial colleagues have taken place on this issue.

Pay

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he (a) has commissioned and (b) plans to commission research to determine the possible benefits of all people employed by businesses receiving at least the living wage.

Jo Swinson: The Government has not commissioned research in this area. We do however continue to keep our research plans under review.
	The Government supports the living wage and encourages businesses to take it up where possible however the decision on what wages are set is for employers and workers.
	The Government’s primary policy for helping the low paid is the national minimum wage. The Government's aim is to have a minimum wage rate that benefits as many low-paid workers as possible, while making sure that we do not damage their employment prospects by setting it too high.
	In addition to the minimum wage, the Government is doing everything it can to help all working people on low pay with the cost of living. That is why we are cutting income tax for the low paid and taking 2.2 million people out of tax altogether.

Research Councils

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff are employed by the (a) Arts and Humanities Research Council, (b) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, (c) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (d) Economic and Social Research Council, (e) Medical Research Council, (f) Natural Environment Research Council and (g) Science and Technology Facilities Council.

David Willetts: As at 31 December 2012, the number of staff employed at each of the Research Councils is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Research Council Number of staff(1) 
			 (a) AHRC 82 
			   
			 (b) BBSRC 1,688 
			 Swindon office 304 
			 Institutes 1,384 
			   
			 (c) EPSRC 220 
			   
			 (d) ESRC 140 
			   
			 (e) MRC 4,499 
			 Institutes and Units 2,815 
			 Locally Employed Overseas 1,410 
			 Other (Head Office and Regional Centres) 274 
			   
			 (f) NERC 2,589 
			 Swindon office 294 
			 Research and Collaborative Centres 2,295 
			   
			 (g) STFC 1,750 
			 Swindon office 100 
			 Campuses and other Regional Centres 1,650 
			 (1 )These figures are headcount rather than FTEs (full-time equivalent).

Sick Leave

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reduce sickness absence in his Department.

Jo Swinson: Sickness absence is treated very seriously in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	BIS has clear policies to help managers tackle sickness absence. Currently the Department is also running a series of workshops with line managers to help them manage issues including too much intermittent sickness absence. We are also in the process of reviewing the attendance management policy with a view to introducing a new policy for line managers to increase their capability in managing sickness absence.
	In addition BIS refers employees with health issues to an independent medical adviser (MA) who is an occupational health expert for advice on how best to support and facilitate their return to work. The actions and support available are relative to the individual circumstances of the case.
	To improve the health and well-being of staff, BIS offers a number of well-being events throughout the year including ‘Cycle to Work’ and an Employee Assistance Programme.
	The average number of working days lost due to sickness absence in core BIS is five days. This is significantly below the current 7.6 average for the civil service as a whole.